In a thrilling encounter on Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies triumphed over the Sacramento Kings with a score of 129-125, marking the Kings' unfortunate tenth consecutive loss of the season, their worst streak so far.
One of the standout performers for Memphis was Cam Spencer, who played a pivotal role in the final moments of the game by sinking three crucial baskets. He concluded the match with an impressive total of 20 points. Ty Jerome also shone brightly, contributing significantly to the scoreboard with 28 points to his name.
The late-game action was intense; with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Spencer nailed a critical three-pointer that pushed the Grizzlies ahead 122-118. Following a quick response from GG Jackson, who scored a jumper for the Kings, Spencer maintained Memphis's lead by hitting a 16-foot jumper just 43 seconds before the game ended. As the Kings made a valiant effort to close the gap, pulling within a point thanks to DeMar DeRozan's three-pointer, Spencer struck again with another three-pointer with only 18 seconds remaining, solidifying the Grizzlies' lead and ultimately sealing their victory.
Other key contributors for Memphis included Jaylen Wells, who added 18 points, and Jackson, who contributed 16 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also made his mark with 15 points, helping the Grizzlies secure their second consecutive win. Notably, Santi Aldama returned to the lineup after a four-game absence due to a right knee injury, contributing 12 points along with six rebounds.
This game was particularly significant for the Grizzlies as it marked their first outing since trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a major deal involving eight players and three future draft picks. Additionally, discussions regarding the potential trade of star guard Ja Morant are ongoing as the trade deadline approaches this Thursday afternoon.
On the other side of the court, the Kings saw Domantas Sabonis shine with a strong performance, scoring 20 of his 24 points during the first half and grabbing 15 rebounds. Unfortunately for Sacramento, their last win dates back to January 16 against Washington, which capped off a four-game winning streak.
DeRozan was another bright spot for the Kings, finishing with 20 points, while Nique Clifford added 14 points. Both Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk chipped in with 13 points each, and Zach LaVine scored 11 points, with Devin Carter contributing 10 points. The Kings had already experienced losing streaks of seven and eight games earlier in the season.
In a notable personal achievement, Westbrook moved up to 14th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, surpassing the legendary Hakeem Olajuwon with a three-pointer early in the first quarter, bringing his career total to 26,597 points. Elvin Hayes sits just above him at 27,313 points.
Additionally, De'Andre Hunter, who joined the Kings from Cleveland through a trade over the weekend, made his debut in Sacramento. He started the game off on a strong note, hitting his first shot—a three-pointer—and finished with nine points.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will face off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Kings will be hosting the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, hoping to break their losing streak.
