Stepping into the point guard role, Vince Williams Jr. delivered a career-best 15 assists, igniting the Grizzlies' dominant win and snapping a losing skid.
Vince Williams Jr. vowed he would get Zach Edey the ball more often. Then he turned that promise into the most complete playmaking performance of his young career.
Pressed into emergency point-guard duty with the Memphis Grizzlies missing all four of their rostered point guards, Williams finished with a career-best 15 assists in a 137-96 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. The effort helped Memphis snap a five-game losing streak and set a franchise record with 42 assists while improving to 5-11. Williams has averaged 8.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 11 games this season.
Williams said he entered the game determined to make up for missed reads in last week’s loss to San Antonio.
“I was going for 20 (assists). I wanted 20. At least 16, but honestly, it felt good,” Williams said, via the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “My teammates made me look good tonight.”
Memphis built its offense around pick-and-roll actions with Edey, simplifying the reads for Williams and opening corner threes for Santi Aldama and Jaylen Wells. Williams had nine assists by halftime as Memphis shot 54% in the first two quarters and built a 75-47 lead.
Williams said the plan centered on making Edey the anchor from the opening possession.
“I said it earlier, you got to get the big dog the big dog the ball,” Williams said. “I missed him a lot in San Antonio, so honestly, just go out there, try to get him going, and then Santi wide open in the corner if he's going.”
Memphis head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Williams’ command of the offense helped steady the team during a difficult injury stretch.
“Vince played great and he has been really thrown in the deep end right here,” Iisalo said. “Today he really quarterbacked our offense, making great passes and keeping the pace really high. And then when you combine that with his defense… it's a complete package today.”
Edey, returning from offseason ankle surgery, was perfect from the field and scored 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting. His interior presence drew attention that allowed Williams to find teammates in rhythm.
“When he's out there, it's way easier,” Edey said. “He's such a big target. If they guard me, he's going to be open. If not, I'm going to be even more open.”
Aldama tied his career high with 29 points and said earlier in the day that the losing streak had made it difficult to sleep. Memphis outrebounded Sacramento 49-32 and controlled the game from start to finish, handing the Kings their eighth straight loss.
The Grizzlies will travel to Dallas on Saturday.