Cam Spencer Hands Out 13 Assists Without a Turnover in Spot Start for Grizzlies

Cam Spencer had 13 assists and no turnovers Saturday night in his first start of the season for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Spencer moved into the lineup with Ty Jerome out, and Memphis beat the Sacramento Kings 136-105 at FedExForum. He added 10 points and 5 rebounds. The 13 assists tied his career high.

Jerome sat with upper back soreness. Memphis also played without backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who has low back soreness, and center Quinten Post, who has a right ankle sprain. Pippen and Post have both been part of the bench rotation this season.

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said in his postgame press conference that the group came home tired from a 4-0 road trip and still had availability questions Saturday morning.

"He's one of the best shooters in the world and we encourage him to take as many shots as possible," Iisalo said. "And that's really what opens up other opportunities. … He played with a little bit different lineup composition with different type of guys."

"There's a different type of balance with the units," Iisalo continued. "And I thought he brought a lot of spacing. He — 13 assists and zero turnovers — played with a lot of poise, and made sure everybody was involved."

Spencer shot 4-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range in 25 minutes. Memphis outscored Sacramento by 23 points with him on the floor. GG Jackson II made all 5 of his 3-point attempts off the bench, and Spencer assisted on 3 of them.

Sacramento scored the game's first 7 points. Memphis led 66-55 at halftime and 108-80 after three quarters. The Grizzlies finished with 30 assists on 47 baskets. Javon Small, the second-year guard who backed up Spencer, had 7 points and 5 assists in 19:37.

Spencer made 146 of his 325 3-point attempts in 2025-26. His 94.0% mark at the free-throw line, on 126-of-134 shooting, led the NBA, according to Basketball-Reference.

He appeared in 72 games last season and started 20 of them. He averaged 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 23.8 minutes.

The Detroit Pistons drafted Spencer 53rd overall in 2024 after college stops at Loyola (Md.), Rutgers, and UConn. He made his NBA debut with Memphis on Nov. 20, 2024, and played 25 games as a rookie. This is his third NBA season.

Through the first five games of this season, all off the bench, Spencer averaged 8.6 points and 3.4 assists in 18 minutes. He made 10 of his 17 3-point attempts in that stretch. Two nights before the Kings game, he had 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists in 23 minutes of a 124-103 win at Portland.

Six games in, he has 30 assists and 6 turnovers.

Jerome is off the NBA's injury report for Monday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. Through five games, he is averaging 25.8 points and 5.8 assists.

Pippen is listed as doubtful, and Post is questionable. Tip-off against New Orleans is at 7 p.m. CT.