Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Jerami Grant #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Golden 1 Center on October 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies to town on Sunday night for their first meeting of the season at Golden 1 Center. The Grizzlies had started their season opposite the Kings, as they won their first two games of the year prior to the matchup with the Kings to start the year 2-0. On the other hand, the Kings entered the game 0-2 after losing to the Clippers on the road and the Blazers at home to start the year. On Sunday, the game tipped off at 6 p.m. PDT.
The Grizzlies defeated the Kings 123-112 on Sunday to improve to 3-0 as the Kings fell to 0-3 on the season.
In the first quarter, neither team jumped out to any big advantages, but the Grizzlies did jump out to an early six-point lead in the first. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings back in the first as he scored 10 points and added eight rebounds to give the Kings a 28-25 lead as the quarter came to a close.
In the second quarter, the Kings’ defense collapsed, and the Grizzlies took full advantage of it. From down three heading into the quarter, the Grizzlies outscored the Kings 42-31 in the second to take a 67-59 lead into halftime.
Doug Christie spoke after the game on the issues the Kings have been having in one quarter of the game, this time the second quarter.
“I have to figure out a way to help them through their fight, the way that they’re battling, they’re putting themselves in it. In the preseason it was a second quarter that was tough. And then it was the third quarter of the last game. It’s just one quarter that’s kind of getting away from us. Tonight it was the second quarter plus 11. And that’s usually the difference in the game.”
On the positive side for the Kings, Zach LaVine kept the Kings in the game with 16 of his 20 points in the second quarter and carried the lion’s share of the offensive load.
Ty Jerome scored 10 points for the Grizzlies in the quarter to lead them to the halftime lead.
Coming out of halftime, the Kings managed to get the game back under control and stopped the bleeding that happened in the second quarter. It was Ty Jerome again for the Grizzlies on offense as he scored 11 more points to bring his game total to 21 at that point. On the other side, it was Zach LaVine who continued to put on a show as he scored another 11 points to bring his three-quarter total to 31 and keep the Kings within striking distance. All in, the Kings outscored the Grizzlies 31-29 in the third quarter as the Grizzlies took a 96-90 lead into the final 12 minutes of the game.
In the fourth quarter, the Kings battled but were ultimately unable to come away with the comeback as they fell to the Grizzlies 123-112. In the final quarter, the Grizzlies finished off the game by outscoring the Kings 27-22. The Kings’ defense had one too many breakdowns in the game, and the offense couldn’t pick up the pieces. The Grizzlies killed the Kings on the offensive glass as they came away with 18 offensive rebounds.
Doug Christie spoke after the game on the offensive rebounding issues the Grizzlies presented to the team.
“We got to block out. Don’t sit down there fighting. Precious is fighting. And I really want the guards to come back and clean up some of those. You got to win the battle. You can’t turn and look at it. You got to hit a guy.”
Zach LaVine spoke after the game on how he feels the team is fighting but coming up just short early in the season.
“The fight is there from everybody, we just need a little more.”
The Kings will now go on the road for a four-game, seven-day road trip. The first game of the trip is in San Antonio on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PDT.
