The Sacramento Kings had their clearest opening yet to break through, and they still came up empty. Memphis left town with a 123-112 win, and Sacramento is still searching for its first victory after three games.
For much of the night, the Kings hung around just enough to make it feel like something might finally break their way. They even reached their first official clutch minutes of the season, defined as a five-point game or tighter in the final five minutes. The score was tied at 106 with 5:41 left, but Memphis handled the closing stretch while Sacramento ran out of answers.
Zach LaVine was the brightest part of the night for the Kings, even in defeat. He scored a game-high 37 points and added 5 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, attacking aggressively every time he touched the ball. That’s the version Sacramento needs from him, and it’s the version he has been giving early in the season.
His contract will keep his league-wide perception complicated for now, especially with his $49 million salary, but the scoring talent is obvious. He has the green light in Sacramento, and nights like this only reinforce that he remains one of the purest scorers in the league. Whether that turns into more wins or stronger trade value, the expectation is that more performances like this are coming.
The bigger issue for Sacramento was the stuff that doesn’t always show up in a highlight reel. The Kings are still losing the margins that matter most, and that’s a dangerous habit for a team trying to settle in. It’s understandable for a group that didn’t get many reps with its true rotation during the preseason, but those loose ends have to get cleaned up quickly.
Tuesday night, Memphis made Sacramento pay on the glass and in transition from extra possessions. The Grizzlies piled up 30 second-chance points off 18 offensive rebounds.
The Kings grabbed 16 offensive boards of their own, but turned them into just 21 points. The difference was clear: Memphis’ second chances looked easy, while Sacramento had to grind for nearly everything.
There was also another development worth watching in the rotation. Nique Clifford, who played just over two minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers, did not get on the floor at all against Memphis. That is a notable turn for a player who entered the season with plenty of buzz.
Expectations were high for Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell as they entered their second season, and the center rotation was one of the bigger questions heading into the year. Raynaud or Cardwell could have seen their roles trimmed, but Clifford seemed like a strong bet to hold a steady place in the mix.
Instead, the backcourt has gotten crowded. Emanuel Sharp has earned early trust with his defensive edge, and Doug Christie clearly likes the energy and hustle Daeqwon Plowden brings.
With Keegan Murray out as well, Clifford still couldn’t find a path to minutes at small forward. That leaves him squeezed out, and while it’s far too early to label it definitive, it’s a trend the Kings will be watching closely.
In Other News...
Keegan Murray Is Caught In A Kings Problem That Keeps Growing
Keegan Murrays early-season fit has been complicated by more than just the usual opening-night rust. Between a preseason spent on limited minutes and the lingering effects of returning from injury, Murray has had to find his rhythm while the Kings keep adjusting the pieces around him. The result has been a start that has not looked as clean or settled as Sacramento would like from one of its key young forwards.
The bigger issue is the one the Kings seem to keep running into: a rotation that has not stayed still long enough for anyone to really settle into a role. Murrays spot has felt especially fluid amid those changes, and the uncertainty has shown up in his on-court consistency. For a team trying to build continuity, his situation has become another reminder that Sacramento still has some sorting out to do. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Is Doing Something Historic For The Kings Already
Domantas Sabonis has wasted no time putting his imprint on Sacramentos season, piling up rebounds at a pace the league has never seen in the post-merger era. Through the first three games, he has grabbed 52 boards to break Moses Malones old mark of 49, while also setting the tone as the Kings most important offensive connector. Even in an early stretch marked by losses, Sabonis has been doing the kind of work that keeps Sacramento organized and dangerous.
What makes the start even more notable is that the big mans production has not been limited to the glass. He is leading the league in rebounds per game and in assists for the Kings, and he has done it while showing improved shooting percentages from last season. For a team still looking to turn effort into results, Sabonis has already been everything the Kings could ask for, and maybe a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Zach LaVine Just Exposed An Early Kings Problem
After an 0-3 start, the early frustration around Sacramento has already gone beyond missed shots and defensive miscues. Zach LaVines comments pointed to a bigger issue inside the locker room: a team still trying to settle in, with the acclimation process not yet giving the Kings a clear sense of direction from the front office, the coaching staff or the veterans expected to steady things.
The larger concern is whether the pieces Sacramento has invested in are actually being used in a way that matches the plan. There has been a noticeable disconnect between draft capital and in-game decisions, including limited run for recent first-round picks, and LaVines point about veteran leadership only sharpened the conversation. In his view, teams need a voice and a structure to lean on, and right now the Kings are still searching for both. [Read more 🡒]