SACRAMENTO -- Through four games, the Sacramento Kings’ offense couldn’t be stopped. Then they met the Memphis Grizzlies.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings looked sluggish early Wednesday evening, but found a way to get into the half trailing by just eight. When they hit the floor after the intermission, they were a completely different team.
In front of an announced crowd of 14,198 at Golden 1 Center, the Kings dominated the second half, outscoring the Grizzlies 53-40, while holding the visiting team to just 29.5 percent shooting after the break.
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They are still searching for consistency on the defensive end, but the Kings did enough Wednesday evening to shock the Grizzlies, coming away with a 97-92 victory to improve to 2-3 on the season.
Here are six notes from Sacramento’s first home win of the season.
Challenge accepted
De’Aaron Fox came to play against Mike Conley Jr. The 20-year-old guard aggressively attacked the veteran and if it weren’t for a few late 3-pointers from the Grizzlies lead guard, he would have won both the battle and the war.
NBA
For stretches late in the game, Fox put the Kings on his back, playing elite defense on one end and flying up the court on the other. He finished the night with 21 points, six assists, eight rebounds, a steal and two blocks in 37 minutes. This is the type of game where a young player becomes something more and gives a glimpse into what the future may hold.
Shooters going to shoot
Buddy Hield loves the Kings’ new style of play. It allows him the freedom to hoist at will and there are plenty of shots for everyone. Against a quality defensive team in Memphis, the third-year guard led the Kings with 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting.
It’s not often that Joerger leaves Hield in the game for 41 minutes, but when he plays hard on both ends of the court and hits the glass for seven boards, he makes the decision easy for his head coach.
Where would the Kings be without Bjelica?
Sacramento runs a group of 25-and-unders onto the court every night, except for late addition Nemanja Bjelica. The Serbian stretch four has been tremendous for the Kings, finding new ways to help the team every time he steps on the floor.
Against the Grizzlies, the 30-year-old big scored a modest 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, but he loves to stuff the stat sheet. Bjelica chipped in 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks in 32 minutes of action. He’s a high basketball IQ player that Joerger has a tough time taking off the floor.
Justin Jackson storms the glass
When Jackson struggled to find his shot early in the game, there was a groan from the Golden 1 Center crowd. And then he found a way to stay on the floor.
Jackson crashed the glass, grabbing seven of his 11 rebounds in the second half as the Kings climbed back into the game. Despite hitting just 2-of-9 from the field, the 23-year-old wing led the team in plus/minus, finishing the game a +20.
Double-double
Willie Cauley-Stein had the enviable assignment of guarding big man Marc Gasol. At halftime, the 7-footer had a team-high 11 points for Sacramento, but just one rebound. He shifted the numbers after the intermission, scoring just four points, but crashing the glass for nine rebounds. If Cauley-Stein can hit teams for 15 points, 10 rebounds and two steals every night, he’s going to make plenty of money in the offseason.
Rookie battle
Marvin Bagley III and Jaren Jackson Jr. battled throughout the evening in their first ever professional game against one another. Bagley finished the night with 13 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes, while Jackson scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 30 minutes.
Per 36 minutes, Bagley was the clear winner and he also came away with the team victory.