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The Sacramento Kings' search for their first victory of the season continues after a 123-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. The game marked Sacramento's best opportunity yet to break into the win column, but the team ultimately fell short in a contest that remained competitive until the final minutes.
For the first time this season, the Kings found themselves in official "clutch" time—defined as a five-point margin or less within the last five minutes. With 5:41 remaining, the score was knotted at 106, but Memphis demonstrated poise and execution down the stretch while Sacramento showed it still has significant growth to achieve. Despite the outcome, the game offered competitive basketball and provided several insights as the Kings fell to 0-3.
LaVine's Monster Season Ahead
Zach LaVine may not have a long-term future in Sacramento, but that hasn't stopped him from delivering a standout performance. The veteran guard poured in a game-high 37 points to go with 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals, playing with aggression on every possession. His volume scoring is exactly what the team needs, echoing the sentiments about Acuff's high shooting workload. Outside of these two guards, the Kings lack consistent volume scorers, suggesting the leading scorer role will fluctuate between them throughout the season.
LaVine's $49 million contract will continue to limit his standing around the league until his salary becomes more palatable, but he is reminding everyone early on that he remains one of the purest scorers in the NBA. With a full green light in Sacramento, whether his production translates to wins or boosts his trade value, fans should expect more nights like this from the former All-Star.
The Little Things Still Missing
From a team perspective, the Kings are still struggling with the fundamentals. This is understandable for a squad still building chemistry and one that didn't get many preseason minutes with its true rotation. However, if these issues aren't corrected soon, Sacramento risks digging a hole it can't escape and languishing at the bottom of the standings all year.
Against Memphis, the combination of offensive rebounds, second-chance points, and turnovers proved costly. The Grizzlies racked up 30 second-chance points on 18 offensive boards, while the Kings managed 21 points off 16 offensive rebounds. Moreover, Memphis's second-chance opportunities appeared to be easy looks, whereas Sacramento had to work hard for its extra possessions.
Clifford Out of the Rotation
One of the season's biggest surprises is becoming a trend: Nique Clifford did not see the floor against Memphis after playing just over two minutes versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Entering the year, expectations were high for Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell in their second seasons. The center rotation was a major question mark, and while Raynaud or Cardwell seemed candidates for reduced roles, Clifford appeared to be a lock for a key rotational spot.
However, minutes are scarce, and rookie Emanuel Sharp has impressed early with his defensive tenacity, while Doug Christie is a big fan of Daeqwon Plowden's energy and hustle. That leaves Clifford on the outside of a crowded backcourt, and even with Keegan Murray out, minutes at small forward are hard to come by. Clifford is supposed to be a building block for the franchise, so his lack of playing time may not bode well for his future. It's still early, but it's a situation worth monitoring as the season progresses.