In Sacramento, California, the Kings secured a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, winning 132-122 and snapping a four-game losing streak. Malik Monk played a crucial role in the win, contributing 28 points and seven assists. The Kings had to contend with the absence of Domantas Sabonis, who departed the game after sustaining two injuries, including a cut above his left eye and a rolled right ankle.
Sabonis initially left the court after being struck by the back of Luke Kennard’s head, resulting in blood streaming from his cut. He returned briefly before ultimately exiting the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury. Despite the setback, the Kings, currently led by interim coach Doug Christie since December, showed resilience. DeMar DeRozan added to the team’s performance with 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, while Keegan Murray notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
On the Grizzlies’ side, they were without their star guard Ja Morant for the second consecutive game due to injury. Even so, Desmond Bane had an impressive night, scoring a season-high 44 points. Zach Edey added 12 points and eight rebounds to the effort. Before this game, the Kings were struggling, having lost five of their previous six games and slipping to the ninth seed in the Western Conference. This victory allowed Sacramento to widen their gap from Dallas by two games.
From Memphis’s perspective, they fought hard even without their key player, which is an encouraging sign as they embark on their longest road trip of the season. For Sacramento, they managed the game effectively despite Sabonis’s absence. Their ability to move the ball around smoothly was notable, along with a substantial contribution from Jake LaRavia.
Twice during the game, Sabonis left for the locker room, but each time the Kings managed to expand their lead, sparing them from the necessity of rushing Sabonis back onto the court. Notably, the game featured a total of 71 attempts from beyond the three-point line between the two teams.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will continue their extensive road trip, facing the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, while the Kings are set to host the Cavaliers on the same day.
