The Sacramento Kings have finally put an end to their longest losing streak in franchise history. Russell Westbrook led the charge with 25 points, steering the Kings to a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. This win snapped Sacramento’s 16-game losing streak, marking their first victory since January 16 and their first road win since December 6.
Westbrook wasn't the only standout. Precious Achiuwa matched his season-high with 20 points and 12 rebounds, playing a crucial role in the Kings' strategy to dominate the Grizzlies inside.
“We needed this,” Achiuwa told NBC Sports California. “It’s been a bit of a rough path for us the past couple games.
We’ve played really well a lot of those games. We were just unfortunate not to come out with a win, but tonight we’re glad.
It feels good to win.”
Daeqwon Plowden, a two-way player, hit a career-high with 19 points, including four three-pointers. DeMar DeRozan also contributed 19 points, while rookie Nique Clifford showcased his versatility with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Maxime Raynaud continued to impress, leading all NBA rookies with his 11th double-double, posting 10 points and 13 rebounds.
On the other side, the Grizzlies, missing star Ja Morant due to an elbow injury, were led by Javon Small’s 21 points. Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 17 points, GG Jackson had 16, and local favorite Jaylen Wells chipped in 12.
The Grizzlies were not the same team that had previously defeated the Kings three times this season. They traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, and injuries to key players like Zach Edey and Santi Aldama have thinned their roster. With a smaller lineup, the Kings took full advantage, dominating the paint and outmuscling their opponents.
“Taking advantage of their size, we just wanted to dominate inside tonight,” Achiuwa said. “Especially using our size and athleticism and our skillset. We just took advantage of that, and it was successful today.”
Sacramento set the pace early, leading 33-25 after the first quarter and maintaining a slim 63-61 lead at halftime. They outscored the Grizzlies 40-38 in the paint and held a significant 20-4 edge in second-chance points.
Achiuwa and Raynaud were instrumental in the first half, combining for 22 points and 18 rebounds. The Kings widened the gap to 10 points midway through the third quarter and entered the fourth with a 92-89 lead. A pivotal moment came when Plowden completed a four-point play, sparking a 10-0 run that extended Sacramento's lead to 104-91.
Despite missing key players like Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, Kings coach Doug Christie expressed pride in his team’s resilience. “More than anything, man, we’ve obviously struggled,” Christie said.
“There are some ups and downs, things you go through in an NBA season, injuries and a lot of different stuff, but I’m super proud of the way these guys continue to come and compete at a really high level, holding each other accountable and getting after it. It’s never perfect, but when I look at the stat sheet and I see 30 assists, that means the ball is moving around and guys are sharing the basketball.”
Looking ahead, the Kings will continue their road trip with upcoming games against the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, before returning to California to face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets, led by Kevin Durant, have faced their own challenges, losing two of their last three games.