In a thrilling encounter, the Memphis Grizzlies triumphed over the Sacramento Kings with a final score of 129-125, marking the Kings' disheartening tenth consecutive defeat of the season.
Cam Spencer played a pivotal role in the game, sinking three crucial shots in the closing moments of the fourth quarter to finish with a solid total of 20 points. Meanwhile, Ty Jerome led the scoring for the Grizzlies with an impressive 28 points. Spencer's performance became particularly significant when he nailed a 3-pointer with just over two minutes left, pushing Memphis ahead 122-118. After GG Jackson contributed a jumper for the Kings, Spencer responded by hitting a 16-foot jumper with only 43 seconds remaining, keeping the Grizzlies' lead at four points. Even as DeMar DeRozan brought the Kings within a single point with his own 3-pointer, Spencer quickly countered with another triple just 18 seconds before the final whistle, securing the win for Memphis.
The Grizzlies enjoyed contributions from several players, including Jaylen Wells with 18 points, Jackson with 16 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope adding 15 points. Santi Aldama made a notable return to the lineup after missing four games due to a right knee injury, contributing 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.
This match was the Grizzlies’ first since trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a substantial eight-player deal that included three draft picks. This trade comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the potential relocation of star guard Ja Morant, as the trade deadline approaches on Thursday afternoon.
On the other hand, Domantas Sabonis was a bright spot for the Kings, scoring 20 of his total 24 points in the first half while also pulling down 15 rebounds. Sacramento's last victory dates back to January 16 against Washington, which concluded a successful four-game winning streak. DeRozan added another 20 points for the Kings, with Nique Clifford contributing 14 points. Both Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk chipped in 13 points each, while Zach LaVine and Devin Carter rounded out the scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Kings have also faced earlier losing streaks of seven and eight games this season.
In a notable achievement, Westbrook moved up to 14th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with a 3-pointer at the 10:06 mark in the first quarter, surpassing the legendary Hakeem Olajuwon. Westbrook's career points now stand at 26,597, trailing only Elvin Hayes, who is in 13th place with 27,313 points.
De'Andre Hunter made his debut for the Kings after being traded from Cleveland and started the game. He made an immediate impact by scoring nine points, including his first shot, which was a 3-pointer.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will face the Portland Trail Blazers in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night, while the Kings are set to host the Los Angeles Clippers this upcoming Friday.
