LaVine Scores 37, But Grizzlies Grind Down Kings Late

The surprisingly fast start of the Memphis Grizzlies clashed with the sobering slow start of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Ty Jerome scored 31 points, including a perfect 14-of-14 shooting from the free throw line, to lead the Grizzlies to a 123-112 win over the Kings in Sacramento. The Grizzlies are 3-0 while the Kings remain winless at 0-3 after an 0-5 preseason.

Jerome was coming off a 45-point performance in their season opener and is currently leading the NBA in scoring at 36.5 points per game. 

Jerome was limited to 15 games on the court for the Grizzlies last season because of injuries. With him back and healthy, Grind City is thriving in its first season without Ja Morant. 

Zach LaVine led the Kings with 37 points on 13-of-25 shooting including 3-of-10 from the three-point line, and five assists. Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. scored 22 points on 9-of-23 shooting from the floor and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. Domantas Sabonis had an even double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

"Our fight is there,” LaVine said. “I think the only time our fight wasn't there was that first game.”

Precious Achiuwa scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for the Kings. Since signing a two-year, $11.2M contract with Sacramento, Achiuwa has averaged 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds through his first three games. 

The game was tied 106-106 with 5:06 left in the game after a three-point play by Sabonis. The Grizzlies took back control of the game with a three-point play of their own by Isaiah Stewart, a mid-range shot by Cedric Coward, and a three-point basket by Jerome to pull ahead of the Kings by eight points.

"I have to be better for them,” Kings head coach Doug Christie said. “This isn't on them. I'll take this."

Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer scored 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double double. Coward also had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Jaylen Wells chipped in 16 points. 

The Grizzlies built a 54-44 lead in the first half on back-to-back three-point baskets by Cam Spencer. They led the Kings by 11 points in the second quarter and went into half-time leading 67-59.

The Grizzlies made half of their 14 three-point shots the second quarter and outscored Sacramento 42-31, with seven players making at least one basket from behind the arc in the first half. 

The Kings shot 44-of-94 from the floor and 10-of-33 from three. They made two fewer free-throw attempts (22) than Memphis made (24).

Up next for the Kings is a daunting road game at San Antonio on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, will travel to Utah on Monday night.