The Kings lose the final game of their road trip in Memphis 119-115

Buddy Hield goes for the steal @NBC CA

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings had to fly home from Memphis licking their wounds after losing the final three games of their four-game road. On Saturday night, the Kings dropped the final game of the road swing to the Grizzlies 119-115. The game was never as close as the final score might imply.

Lead Changes

There were three lead changes in the game; however, the Kings never held the lead after the first quarter of the game. The largest lead of the game for Sacramento was seven points. The Grizzlies biggest lead was 17 points.

Memphis held a 10 point lead – 60 to 50 – at halftime.

By the end of three quarters, the Grizzlies were up 91-78 over the Kings.

The Kings made a big charge in the final period as De’Aaron Fox scored 14 points while Memphis went 12 players deep to rest their starters. Sacramento outscored the Grizzlies 37-28 the fourth quarter but came up four points short of winning the game when the final buzzer sounded.

3-point baskets made the difference 

The Grizzlies hit 15 of 35 attempts (42.9%) from downtown in the game versus the Kings.

The Kings shot just 30.6% (11-for-36) from behind the arc in the contest which ultimately led to their downfall.

The charity stripe was unkind to SAC

The Kings went to the line 24 times but hit only 18 shots.

The Grizzlies went 24-for-29 from the charity stripe. Those six points proved too big when the final horn sounded.

Sacramento

• Harrison Barnes led all scorers with 25 points in the game.
• De’Aaron Fox – who got the start in the game – finished with 22 points.
• Richaun Holmes put up a double-double putting in 18 points and hauling in 12 rebounds.
• Marvin Bagley III also had a double-double game with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Memphis

• Jaren Jackson Jr. was the Grizzlies leading scorer with 18 points.
• Jae Crowder recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• Dillon Brooks scored 16 points.
• Ja Morant and Grayson Allen both scored 13 points in the contest.

Up next

The Kings return home to host the very tough Houston Rockets on Monday night.

The Grizzlies will host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.

Morant’s big night sparks Grizzlies’ win over struggling Warriors 110-102

Photo credit: @GrizNationCP

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, December 9, 2019

Ja Morant celebrated his return to the Memphis lineup Monday by scoring 26 points while dishing out seven assists, as the Grizzlies handed Golden State its 20th loss of the season with a 110-102 decision at Chase Center.

Morant, the second overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, also had two rebounds and a steal after missing the last four games with a sore back. It was the Grizzlies’ second win in their last 11 games.

Dillon Brooks was next on the Grizzlies scoring list with 17 points, followed by Jaren Jackson with 16, Grayson Allen scored 15 off the bench, and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

D’Angelo Russell and reserve Alec Burks each scored 18 points to lead the Warriors (5-20), followed by Willie Cauley-Stein with 17. Draymond Green scored16 points and Omari Spellman added 10. Russell also struggled from the field, hitting 6 of 22 shots.

Cauley-Stein and Glenn Robinson III each grabbed eight rebounds and Burks had seven, as Golden State held a 46-42 rebounding edge. However, the Warriors also shot 38 percent for the game.

Memphis (7-16) led 54-47 at halftime, but the Warriors stayed close throughout the second half. The Warriors had pulled to within 106-100 with just over a minute to play, but Morant finished a drive through the lane with a dunk that silenced the crowd.

Some good news for the Warriors: Jacob Evans III, who has been on the shelf since Oct. 28 with a strained left hip, played nine minutes against the Grizzlies.

On Wednesday, Golden State hosts the New York Knicks in a matchup of two of the NBA’s charter members. The Knicks, who fired coach David Fizdale and assistant Keith Smart last Friday, are the only team with a worse record than the Warriors.