Kings Vs Grizzlies: Sacramento snaps franchise-worst 16-game skid with 123-114 road win
The Sacramento Kings snapped a 16-game losing streak — the longest in franchise history — with a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, ending a run that left Sacramento with the NBA's worst record and without a win since beating Washington on Jan. 16. The late-season result reshapes the narrative for a team that had been searching for answers during a prolonged slump in the Western Conference.
Westbrook and Achiuwa lead the way
Russsell Westbrook scored 25 points and Precious Achiuwa finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds as Sacramento closed out the victory. Achiuwa already had 14 points and 11 rebounds before the break, and Westbrook’s 3-pointer with 8: 45 left capped a 15-4 run that pushed the Kings comfortably ahead in the fourth quarter.
DeRozan, Plowden contribute in fourth-quarter push
DeMar DeRozan added 19 points and Daeqwon Plowden also finished with 19 points; Plowden scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. Sacramento led 92-89 entering the fourth, then used the late run that included Westbrook’s 3 to build separation and preserve the 123-114 final score in Memphis.
Game swings: third-quarter lead, midperiod rally
The Grizzlies fought back to take the lead early in the third quarter, but the Kings answered with an 18-6 rally that produced the game's first double-digit lead midway through the period. Sacramento led 63-61 at the half while both teams shot better than 54% through two quarters, a hot-shooting first half that set up the third-quarter seesaw and the decisive late runs.
Kings Vs Grizzlies: Memphis depth issues and top contributors
Memphis entered the matchup with a roster hampered by injuries and eight Grizzlies were on the injured list for the game, a situation that left the club playing most games with lineups cobbled together from available players. Javon Smalls led Memphis with 21 points and nine assists, Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 17 points and GG Jackson added 16. With the Grizzlies lacking an active player taller than the 6-foot-9 Jackson, Sacramento’s height advantage was evident.
Records, recent form and projection-model notes
Sacramento had been 12-46 coming into the matchup and had lost all three meetings with Memphis earlier in the season, with a 3-26 mark on the road. Memphis entered the game at 21-34, third in the Southwest Division and 11-15 at home. Tipoff from FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., had been set for 8 p. m. ET on the night of the matchup, and the all-time series stood with the Kings leading 59-53 although the Grizzlies had won the last three meetings.
Pregame betting lines showed the Grizzlies as 3. 5-point favorites with an over/under of 232. 5. A projection model simulated the matchup 10, 000 times, went Under on the point total and indicated one side of the spread hit nearly 60% of trials. The same projection operation simulates every college basketball game 10, 000 times, had entered Week 17 on an 11-1 run on top-ranked over/under picks and a 20-11 run on top-rated college side picks, and was on a 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA picks.
Immediate aftermath and upcoming schedule
Injuries to key players have left both teams pivoting to the future, and the schedule turned quickly: the Kings were set to visit Houston on Wednesday night, while the Grizzlies were scheduled to host Golden State on Wednesday night.
