Kings Hit Rock Bottom in Blowout Loss to Shorthanded Grizzlies
So, let’s talk about this Kings–Grizzlies game, because what unfolded in Memphis honestly felt like the lowest point of Sacramento’s season so far. And that’s saying something, considering how rough things have already been. The Kings walked into this matchup facing a Grizzlies squad missing both Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., which should’ve been a chance to reset, regroup, and maybe grab a much-needed win. Instead, the night turned into a full-on collapse.
The Kings were blown out 137–96, marking their eighth straight double-digit loss and dropping them to 3–13—matching the worst 16-game start in the franchise’s history. And it wasn’t just a loss; it was another one of those brutal ones where everything that could go wrong… did go wrong. Four of their defeats this season have now been by at least 27 points. That’s the kind of stat no team wants attached to their name.
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Even with Keegan Murray finally back after missing 15 games with a thumb injury, there wasn’t much of a spark. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Kings were down by 37, and coach Doug Christie decided he’d seen enough. Veterans Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine were all benched for the remainder of the game.
LaVine did what he could, finishing with 26 points on an efficient shooting night, while Murray and Westbrook each added 11. DeRozan, though, struggled and ended with just seven points. On the other side, Memphis looked like a team completely unbothered by the absence of their stars. They shot nearly 51 percent from the field, with Santi Aldama dropping 29 and Jock Landale adding 21 off the bench. The Grizzlies even dished out a franchise-record 42 assists, which tells you everything about how easily they sliced through Sacramento’s defense.
And all of this came hours after the Kings announced that Domantas Sabonis had suffered a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. He’s expected to be reevaluated in a few weeks, but that injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. Christie acknowledged the chaos—injuries, inconsistency, constant lineup shuffling—while making it clear that the problems are real but not excuses.
It’s wild to think that just a couple of seasons ago, the Kings were celebrating a Pacific Division title and pushing the Warriors to seven games. Since then, though, things have unraveled. Mike Brown was fired last season, De’Aaron Fox was traded away, and the roster now feels mismatched, overpaid, and lacking direction. Even if the front office wanted to rebuild, the trade value of their top players isn’t exactly at a high point.
Right now, Sacramento sits near the bottom of the league in defensive rating, shot selection continues to be an issue, and the vibe around the team feels heavy. The season is still young, but this loss to a depleted Grizzlies squad shows just how deep the problems run—and how far the Kings are from finding their footing again.
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