Kings hopeful of Cooks return on Christmas

The Sydney Kings remain hopeful star Xavier Cooks will be able to play in the historic Christmas night game despite suffering another ankle setback.

Cooks played just eight minutes in Sunday’s double-overtime clash with the South East Melbourne Phoenix after tweaking his ankle.

Kings CEO Chris Pongrass has called Cooks’ low minute count on Sunday “precautionary” ahead of the Christmas clash against Melbourne United.

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“We’re going to see how he (Xavier) practices this week, but the hope is that he is playing with the group on Sunday,” Pongrass told News Corp.

“He was fine in the warm-up against the Phoenix, but when he started playing there was a little bit of soreness.”

Cooks suffered an ankle injury earlier this season which forced him to miss the Australian Boomers’ FIBA qualifying window in November.

Tip-off between Sydney and Melbourne on Christmas is set for 6:30pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena.