Nique Clifford’s line in the Sacramento Kings’ loss to the Blazers looked rough at first glance, and the box score doesn’t do him any favors. He finished with two points on 0-for-11 shooting, along with two rebounds, five assists and one block in nearly 30 minutes. But the stat sheet only tells part of the story.
A big chunk of Clifford’s night came with him operating as the point guard, a wrinkle that changes how his performance should be read. He opened the game at shooting guard with Elfrid Payton starting at point guard, then shifted into running the offense. That usage helps explain why the scoring and shooting numbers fell flat.
Through the preseason, Clifford has been something of a roller coaster. The production has swung from game to game, but the Kings have also seen clear growth from his first season in the league. He’s playing with more aggression, more assertiveness and more willingness to shoot than he did in 2025-2026.
Still, this latest outing was a tough one. For a sophomore with high expectations, those are not the kind of numbers anyone wants to see, especially with that kind of minutes load. The position change is what makes the night more interesting than disappointing.
Clifford is normally viewed as a wing, either at small forward or shooting guard. Point guard is a different challenge entirely, and it’s not the role that comes naturally to him.
Even so, the Kings may be testing something real here. The staff could be seeing enough in practice to believe there’s untapped potential at the position.
If that’s the case, it could matter a lot for Sacramento. Clifford becoming a serviceable backup for Acuff while still giving the team quality minutes on the wing would give the Kings real lineup flexibility. That kind of positional versatility can open up all sorts of rotation possibilities.
The learning curve won’t be pretty, though. Clifford figuring out point guard responsibilities is going to come with some ugly nights on paper, and this may have been one of them. But if he settles into the role, it would give the Kings another dangerous piece to work with.
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Absence Vs Blazers Says A Lot About Kings Plan
Ben Simmons first taste of Kings basketball came after more than a year away from the NBA, and Sacramento wasted little time treating his preseason as a careful ramp-up rather than a sprint. After making his debut, Simmons sat out the next preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, a move Doug Christie framed as part of a broader workload plan designed to keep him on track for opening night.
For a Kings team trying to blend a new piece into its rotation without asking too much too soon, the decision fits the moment. Simmons is reportedly healthy and in good condition, and the expectation is that he will be in the starting lineup when the regular season begins, but Sacramento appears determined to be intentional about every step between here and then. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Just Made The Kings Gamble A Lot More Interesting
Ben Simmons said the Kings were the first team to come see him in person and evaluate where he stood physically, a detail that helps explain how Sacramento ended up landing him on a one-year deal. For a team looking to add size, playmaking and defensive versatility behind its rookie point guard, the fit is easy to understand, and the move carries the kind of low-risk upside front offices like to chase this time of year.
Simmons also made clear how much the chance means to him after missing last season because of injuries, saying he is excited to get back healthy. For Sacramento, the signing is less about a splash than about a roster bet: if Simmons is right physically, the Kings may have added a useful multipurpose piece, and if he is not, the cost stays contained. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Just Added A Camp Body And The Next Cut Matters
The Spurs have shuffled the back end of their roster again, this time bringing in veteran forward Terry Taylor on a non-guaranteed training camp deal after waiving RJ Davis. Taylor gives San Antonio some experienced depth as the preseason roster hits the 21-player limit, and the expectation is that he will ultimately land with the Austin Spurs, where the organization can keep a closer eye on him.
For Sacramento, the move is worth watching because it comes at a time when the Kings are still sorting out their own frontcourt depth. They recently brought back center Viktor Lakhin on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract after waiving him earlier, a sign they may need extra bodies as injuries continue to affect that part of the roster. In that kind of late-summer churn, even the smallest camp decision can matter. [Read more 🡒]