Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) takes the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) in the first half at the Fed Ex Arena in Memphis on Thu Nov 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night the Sacramento Kings (3-13) met up with the Memphis Grizzlies (5-11) at FedExForum. The outcome was one of the worst games this team has played in a very long time.

The triumphant return of Keegan Murray was completely overshadowed by the final score of 137-96. The Kings conceded 30 points off the 17 turnovers they committed. Despite the Grizzlies being short-handed missing Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson and Ty Jerome Memphis handled the Kings with ease outscoring them in all four quarters.

The Kings have struggled mightily this season and between an unimaginable schedule, defensive woes along with a team that is just not falling into place they are in deep trouble. Thursday night the Kings thought what they got what might be a bit of a break as they lost to the Grizzlies who are contending with issues of their own.

In Thursday’s game the Grizzlies have Jaren Jackson, Ja Morant and Ty Jerome out which didn’t hurt them. The Kings also announced some bad news in the absence of Domantas Sabonis who is likely out for a significant time due to a left knee meniscus tear.

The injury was originally thought to be left knee soreness but further testing revealing the tear. He will more than likely be out deep into December and will not be re-evaluated for up to four weeks.

Sabonis has really been banged up so far this season and this recent injury just further sends the team into a very dark place. Thursday night the Kings who have lost eight consecutive games by double figures after losing to the Grizzlies.

The Kings failed to get on the winning track as they couldn’t defeat another struggling team in the Grizzlies. Memphis comes into this game after losing to the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night 111-101.

Game recap: What revealed itself what an epic shocker. Sacramento had high hopes with the return of Keegan Murray who was cleared for Thursday night’s game. Could this be the reinforcement that the team needs, the player that will elevate the team?

Murray had missed the entire season, the first 15 games. As the first quarter got underway things went haywire from the get go. Sacramento has failed at times to generate much offense and this game was no different.

After the first 12 minutes of play Sacramento trailed by the score of 35-22. It was still early in the game but the second quarter was even worse with the Kings getting outscored by the Grizzlies 40-25 and trailing 75-47 at the half getting demolished by the short-handed Grizzlies. It was the stuff that nightmares are made of.

After three quarters the tally continued to blow-up for Memphis as they outscored the Kings 38-29 taking a 113-76 lead into the fourth quarter. It was an embarrassment of epic proportion. As the clock wore down on the fourth quarter the Grizzlies had won all four quarters.

They outscored the Kings in the final quarter 24-20; the final was 137-96. The Grizzlies had snapped their their five-game losing streak. Needless to say the Memphis Grizzlies were on fire taking full advantage of the absence of Sabonis inside. Zach Edey and Jock Landale worked the inside only missing one of their 13 shots taken in the first half. Edey finished with 16 points and Landale chipped in 13 points.

One can only imagine what the locker room looks like right now. So much is going so wrong for the Sacramento Kings. Zach LaVine had the team high with 26 points and was four of eight from downtown.

Keegan Murray in his return scored 11 points and was on the floor for 33 minutes. Maxime Raynaud had 12 points off the bench. The Kings conceded 30 points off their 17 turnovers. Where the team goes from here is anybody’s guess but drastic changes seem to be in order. Sacramento has now lost eight games in a row and where it goes from here remains to be seen.

Morale has to be at an all-time low as the Kings faced with yet another game this Saturday traveling to Denver for a matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. It will take a lot to bounce back from this game but the team has no other choice. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.