Kings coach Reggie Theus hoped to return to Sacramento to hear positive news about the players the team left behind on its two-game trip.
No such luck.
Theus said Kevin Martin (sprained left ankle), Francisco García (strained right calf) and Mikki Moore (sprained right ankle) are expected to miss tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Arco Arena.
"Mikki is the furthest along, 'Cisco is after that, and Kevin, there isn't a timeline yet,"
Theus said.
Moore could return as early as Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, while García likely will begin practicing with the team in the next several days.
However, Martin, who has missed the past six games, had a second MRI recently and will be out longer than anticipated. Theus said the MRI revealed "no further problems"
and said it is "just a slow-healing injury."
Martin's original prognosis had him returning no later than Thursday. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said Wednesday that Martin could return as late as the middle of next week.
"We are talking still quite some time before we are healthy,"
Theus said. "Once you get your guys back, it takes awhile before everyone gets in sync."
Meanwhile, Theus analyzed matchups that won't wait for his injured players. The Blazers, fresh off routing the Chicago Bulls 116-74 on Wednesday, has Greg Oden coming off the bench.
"They are very athletic and very talented,"
Theus said. "They are extremely deep. They are a team that has gotten better and better with their personnel."
Theus said he is considering the lineup used in the 105-96 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, which had rookie Donté Greene starting at small forward.
Greene, who averaged 5.6 minutes in five games off the bench, played 35 minutes in his first NBA start. He scored 15 points, going 3 for 4 from three-point range. Theus said he continues to remind Greene what will earn him minutes.
<"He has to continue to understand that we know he can score,"/q> Theus said. "It's his defense and paying attention to those aspects that will keep him on the floor."
