“Thrilling Showdown: Kings Edge Grizzlies 138-133 in Nail-Biter!”

The Doug Christie era has begun on a positive note.

The Sacramento Kings delivered one of their strongest offensive displays of the season, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 138-133 for their third consecutive victory. Malik Monk spearheaded the effort with a game-high 31 points, supported by six Kings players reaching double figures. Sacramento native and Folsom High School graduate (Go Bulldogs!) Jaylen Wells led Memphis with 30 points.

This matchup was energetic and lively from the outset. The Kings emerged with a tempo and vigor that I hadn’t witnessed from this team since their inaugural Beam Team season. Once more, Keegan Murray was absent, prompting the selection of a smaller yet swifter lineup with Keon Ellis starting again against a larger and more robust Grizzlies squad. Both teams came out scorching from beyond the arc, connecting on impressive shots. By the six-minute mark of the first quarter, the score was already 23-23, with the Kings hitting five three-pointers and Memphis six. The hot shooting continued for Sacramento, as Trey Lyles entered and knocked down three triples in the first quarter. Rookie Devin Carter also made his first appearance, demonstrating his defensive vigor, rebounding skills, and capability to lead fast breaks. By the conclusion of the first quarter, the Kings held a 46-32 advantage and had already made 10 three-pointers (out of 18 attempts). Given that this Kings squad had experienced 14 games this season with 10 or fewer made three-pointers in an entire game, this display came as quite the surprise, whether due to opportunity or a renewed focus from Coach Christie, as the Kings were letting it fly.

Conversely, it wasn’t solely the offense that resembled that early Beam Team period, as the defense bore semblance to it as well, with Memphis obtaining nearly every shot attempt they desired, both inside and outside. The second quarter saw the Grizzlies outpace the Kings 40-32 while shooting an impressive 55.6% from the floor. Notably, Memphis was reaching the free-throw line significantly more than Sacramento, a trend that persisted throughout the evening. Memphis’s size also posed challenges for the Kings on the boards, as they dominated rebounds 15 to 7 in that second quarter. Nonetheless, the Kings held a 78-72 lead at halftime, enjoying a robust offensive rhythm.

However, that rhythm came to an abrupt stop in the third quarter for both teams as physicality escalated on both ends. Keon Ellis incurred three quick fouls within the first two minutes but responded with three outstanding possessions that led to easy Kings points, pushing the lead to 87-72, the largest of the game. After that, though, Sacramento’s offense stagnated. The tempo that had characterized the first half noticeably slowed, and the outside shots that had been successful began to diminish. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies kept pressure on, particularly the rookie Jaylen Wells, who was on fire from three-point range that evening. Wells scored 11 points in the quarter, going a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc (he would finish 8-9 from three). He netted 11 points in the third while no Kings player exceeded five. The Kings also shot just 1-11 from three in that quarter, and although they made one more field goal than Memphis, they were outscored 28-24 due to more successful three-point attempts, free throws, and second-chance opportunities. Thanks to a cherry-picked dunk by Trey Lyles at the quarter’s end, the Kings clung to a narrow 102-100 lead entering the final frame, but the momentum and style of play clearly favored Memphis at this stage.

The game had transformed into a battle, and the Kings were growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of fouls called in their favor, while Memphis frequently accessed the free-throw line on the opposite end. After De’Aaron Fox got stripped while the Kings led 109-108, he made a determined effort to prevent Scottie Pippen Jr. from scoring at the rim but miscalculated, striking Pippen’s head instead and resulting in a Flagrant 1 foul. Pippen converted both free throws, granting the Grizzlies their first lead since the score was 17-16. On the following possession, Desmond Bane faked Keon Ellis with a pump fake, but Ellis recovered just in time to block the shot. The Kings countered on the other side, and after Malik Monk was denied at the rim, they earned a second shot courtesy of some hustle from Trey Lyles and made a three to reclaim the lead at 112-110. It marked Monk’s initial points of the quarter, but certainly not his last.

Following a couple of possessions later with the Kings up one after a Scottie Pippen Jr. three-pointer, DeMar DeRozan connected on a three off a good pass from Keon Ellis, allowing the Kings to extend their lead to four. It represented DeRozan’s fourth three of the night on seven attempts, both season-high records. Indeed, one would need to go back to March 9th, 2018, to find a game where DeRozan attempted that many threes. While they were open looks and good shots, often this season DeMar opts for his signature midrange when given the chance. Today, however, he was ready to shoot as it appeared intentional. After the game, Coach Christie noted that he wanted the Kings to aim for at least 40 three-point attempts per game. They’ve accomplished that only eight times this season, including this evening. Domantas Sabonis was another player who seemed to highlight shooting from out deep, attempting a season-high of six threes and making three as the Grizzlies allowed him more space and congested the paint.

After DeMar’s last three-pointer, Malik Monk took charge. Following a vintage 90’s style half-hook from Zach Edey to reduce the Grizzlies’ deficit to two, Malik responded by sinking a three-pointer. Desmond Bane aimed to counter with his own deep three but missed, and Malik swiftly drove to the basket, increasing the Kings’ lead to 123-116. Memphis called a timeout and managed to create a decent look for Bane from three, which he converted; however, to his dismay and to the Kings’ advantage, his heel was out of bounds, so the basket was invalidated. Malik found himself matched up against Zach Edey on the other end, assessed the situation, and then nailed a step-back three over him to secure a 10-point lead with 4:21 remaining.

This was an enjoyable basketball match from start to finish, and precisely the kind of display the Sacramento fans at Golden 1 Center have been longing to witness all season. This squad exhibited joy and leaned into their advantages throughout the game. It wasn’t flawless by any stretch, but it might have been the most enjoyable one, something that has been absent for some time. Hopefully, the Kings can maintain this momentum and revive what had appeared to be a dormant season.

The Kings will aim to prolong their winning streak on Sunday as they take on the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco for the first time this season.

Miscellaneous Observations:

• 0 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 fouls in 10:48 for Devin Carter’s debut. I thought it was a commendable performance for a rookie who hadn’t seen much action in 6 months. His ability to rebound was clear, capturing several boards over larger defenders, and he had a particularly impressive possession where he grabbed the rebound, pushed the tempo, and found Alex Len for an easy dunk at the rim. Offensively, I think he attempted to force things a bit, taking a tightly contested three and an off-balance floater off a drive, but I attribute that to first-game nerves. Overall, it was refreshing to see him on the floor, and it’s evident he brings some qualities this team has been missing.
• Mike Brown might still have a position if he didn’t have an odd fixation on not playing Keon Ellis. Ellis isn’t a superstar by any means, but he is a player who makes contributions that assist this team in winning. He’s incredibly dynamic defensively, disrupting passing lanes, drives, and shots with those long arms. Offensively, he’s one of the more dependable shooters this team possesses. I’d like to see him continue to maintain a larger role on this team even when Keegan returns. If this means Kevin Huerter only gets 10-15 minutes a night, then so be it. Huerter isn’t delivering nearly what Ellis contributes at the moment.
• Trey Lyles continues to perform exceptionally well off the bench. Lyles was flawless from the field tonight: 16 points on 6-6 shooting and 4-4 from three along with 6 rebounds. I realize that Lyles would be one of the more intriguing trade options we might have for other teams, but I would hesitate to relinquish him unless we’re receiving something similar in return, considering we’re already deficient in size and shooting.
• Jaylen Wells is a standout. Memphis continues to discover gems in the second round, and Wells is no exception. He achieved a career-high in front of his friends and family, and he also plays solid defense.
• Memphis has numerous players I would covet as depth pieces for the Kings. For instance, Brandon Clarke would be the perfect bench big for this team.
• I was doubtful about Zach Edey’s compatibility in the NBA, and while I still don’t believe he’ll ever become a star, he’s likely to be a solid big man for years to come. He’s an absolute giant, and he displays a good touch in the post. He could be an upgraded version of Steven Adams, and that’s quite impressive.