Kings' De'Andre Hunter suffers eye injury in game vs. Clippers

The forward left the game in the third quarter and is being evaluated.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Sacramento Kings forward De'Andre Hunter suffered an injury to his left eye during the third quarter of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Hunter was helped to the locker room with a towel pressed over his eye after taking a shot to the face. He had contributed six points and a rebound in 25 minutes of action before exiting the game.

Why it matters

Hunter's injury is a concern for the Kings, who are in the midst of a tight playoff race in the Western Conference. The team will need to evaluate the extent of the injury and determine Hunter's availability going forward.

The details

With 2:06 left in the third quarter, Kings head coach Mike Brown subbed in Daeqwon Plowden for Hunter after the injury occurred. The team did not provide immediate details on the severity of the injury or Hunter's status.

  • The injury happened with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter of the Kings-Clippers game on Friday, February 6, 2026.

The players

De'Andre Hunter

A 25-year-old forward for the Sacramento Kings who suffered an eye injury during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Daeqwon Plowden

A Kings player who replaced De'Andre Hunter in the game after he suffered the injury.

Mike Brown

The head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

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What they’re saying

“De'Andre Hunter was helped to the locker room with a towel pressed over his left eye after taking a shot to the face.”

— Jason Anderson, Kings beat reporter

What’s next

The Kings will need to evaluate the severity of Hunter's eye injury and provide an update on his status for future games.

The takeaway

Hunter's injury is a setback for the Kings as they push for a playoff spot, and the team will need to determine the extent of the damage and how long he may be sidelined.