SACRAMENTO -- The streak is over.
After dropping their previous eight games, the Sacramento Kings shook off a horrible first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies and needed another rally in the fourth to come away with a 128-123 victory.
Rookie Ja Morant dropped in 23 points and seven assists, but most of those points came late with the game out of reach for the Grizzlies.
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SIGN UP HERE Jonas Valanciunas hit the Kings for a big 18-point, 12-rebound double-double for Memphis and Jaren Jackson torched the Kings from long range early.
In front of a hungry Golden 1 Center crowd, the Kings pushed the tempo, took care of the ball and hit their free throws when it mattered.
Here are three takeaways as the Kings battled through adversity to improve to 13-22 on the season.
Running
NBA
After finishing fifth in the league in pace a season ago, the Kings' offense has been in slow motion early in the 2019-20 campaign. That changed on Thursday night.
Behind the starting backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, the Kings finally turned on the jets. It was ugly at first, but once the shots started falling, the Kings looked like the team that made them must-watch TV last year.
Fox finished the night with 29 points, nine assists, four rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Hield knocked down 5-of-9 from long range on his way to 26 points and seven rebounds.
MVP chants?
Richaun Holmes is the best free agent investment the Kings have made in a long time. The fan favorite went to work against the Grizzlies, bringing energy and excitement. Fans responded with “MVP” chants.
The 26-year-old struggled with the size of Jonas Valanciunas, but he out-hustled the Grizzlies to finish the night with 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Holmes has been the Kings’ best player throughout the first half of the season and if they start running like they did against Memphis, it plays perfectly to his skillset.
A tale of two quarters
The Kings struggled to find their shot in the first quarter and the Grizzlies burned them in transition. Sacramento gave up 42 points in the opening 12 minutes and trailed by as many as 20.
A completely different Kings team showed up in the second quarter. Sacramento pushed the pace, hit their shots and played inspired defense.
After hearing a chorus of boos in the first, Kings fans greeted their home team with a standing ovation as they took a 63-60 lead into the intermission.