SACRAMENTO — Whatever the final score ended up being Monday night, the story was going to be Kevin Huerter. The Kings’ guard went down in a heap after being fouled by Desmond Bane on a fast break opportunity just 1:51 into the game against the Grizzlies, going from the floor to the locker room with what would later be called a left shoulder injury.
Huerter would not return to the game, and the energy reflected that of a team down a starter; the air was sucked out of the game and the arena until a late run by Sacramento in the second quarter that put the home team up double-digits.
But the Grizzlies, short-handed though they may be, still possess some of that Grind City mentality, and refused to go away quietly behind the efforts of Desmond Bane – in his second game back from an injury that had cost him most of 2024 – and Jaren Jackson, Jr, who put together a well-rounded game of his own.
Bane did much of his damage from the charity stripe; just 7-19 from the field, he connected on all eight of his free throw attempts at every King that attempted to slow him down found themselves sending him to the line.
But despite his heroics, his team trailed by 10 at the break, 57-47.
The third quarter saw Sacramento’s lead grow to as many as 12 and shrink to as few as one, until a 68 second De’Aaron Fox flurry from three saw it settle at 84-76. Fox drilled three straight from behind the arc as the third wound down, only to see Memphis answer each of his makes with a score of their own. In the third, Domantas Sabonis achieved his 50th straight double-double on a night when he would finish with 25/18/5. He is just the 10th player in NBA history to put together a streak of 50 or more double-doubles. It’s almost taken for granted at this point, but the greatness of Domas does not go unnoticed by his teammates or coaches, as has been made clear time and time again in post game press conferences. Post Grizzlies game, Coach Brown wanted to focus on his effort on defense against one of the best young players in the league.
“I thought Domas was really, really good on Jaren Jackson,” Brown said. “He’s an elite player – you’re not going to stop him, you just want to make it difficult on him. I thought Domas did that tonight.”
He also talked about Sabonis’ streak, and how it’s becoming almost expected from him.
“He cares a ton. His effort is unmatched when it comes to rebounding the ball especially,” Brown said. “After being around him, and coaching him, and watching him, you understand how he can get as many double-doubles as he has gotten in a row. He’s just the type of player.”
The defense set the tone to start the fourth though, with Sacramento forcing a shot clock violation on the Grizzlies’ first possession — only to see Memphis repay the favor on their ensuing opportunity. A sequence early in the final frame seemed to get the Kings back on track though; Keon Ellis managed to block Bane on the rim at one end, leading to a Fox run out that ended with him flipping the ball over his head to Malik Monk who finished the highlight-level alley-oop.
The Grizzlies trailed by seven after that bucket, but every time it appeared Sacramento was poised to run away, the Griz stormed back.
A Sabonis three point play with 7:21 to play put the Kings up nine, but just over a minute later Memphis was back within three after three fouls, two missed shots, and a turnover by the Kings. After a 1-2 trip from the line for Sabonis, John Konchar slammed home an offensive rebound to bring Memphis within two. The teams traded turnovers, with Fox’s miscue leading to a game-tying Bane layup with less than five to play, and Fox repaying the favor with a goaltending aided layup of his own after a Jaren Jackson turnover to put his team back on top.
With 3:30 remaining and Sacramento up 99-97, the Grizzlies called a timeout. Keon Ellis would force a turnover out of the break, but the Kings would miss the ensuing shot attempt leading to a pair of Santi Aldama free throws that tied things up at 99. Sabonis responded with two from the stripe a possession later, as the teams once again traded buckets.
Ellis bottled up Bane to force a difficult shot on one end, but the Kings couldn’t capitalize on the other. and Sabonis grabbed a handful of jersey against Jaren Jackson, who tied the game for the third time in a three minute span. Memphis would take their first lead since the first quarter with an Aldama layup with less than a minute to play, and after Murray missed two free throws, Monk would throw down his third monster dunk of the game, an opportunity given to him thanks to Ellis’ offensive rebound.
Unfortunately for Sacramento, Bane went right back to work, driving for a layup that put his team on top 105-103 with 33.4 to play.
Out of a timeout, Fox hit a signature elbow jumper despite nearly losing the ball, and with time running down, GG Jackson missed a long two to send the game to overtime.
It was an auspicious start to OT, as Fox air balled a three and Jackson responded on the other end. Malik Monk somehow managed to will one in in the paint after an Aldama miss, and Sabonis drew a charge on Jackson leading to another Monk bucket, this one a long two, that put Sacramento back on top. Ellis did solid work to help force a shot clock violation on Memphis’ next possession, and Monk made it a four point lead with his third straight made bucket.
A successful Mike Brown challenge on a ball out of bounds led to yet another Monk bucket, as he made it eight straight in OT and 24 on the game. After another Memphis miss, Monk fed Sabonis for an easy dunk, and the Kings went up 115-107 with 1:09 to play.
“I feed off negative energy, I feed off positive energy, just energy man,” Monk said of his explosion. “That’s what makes me come alive.”
Marcus Smart, on the bench with an injury, was ejected from the game with a double technical, leading to free throws for Monk to give him 26 and give the Kings a ten point lead. That was enough to set the “Light the Beam” chants off in the arena, as Sacramento cruised to the victory.
“It was great for us,” Fox said of Monk’s OT effort. “He’s done it before; it was big for us at the end of the fourth and that overtime period. We just continued to feed the hot hand; him being able to start and finish plays is great for us.”
Monk would finish with a game-high 28 for Sacramento, including 12 in over time. The Kings also got double-digit performances from Sabonis (25), Fox (23), Murray (15), and Barnes (11). Memphis was led by Jaren Jackson’s 25, Bane’s 24, and GG Jackson’s 22. The Grizzlies shot just 38% from the field and 33% from three — including just 5-24 from deep after the first quarter. The Kings were once again tough on the defensive end, led by the energy and effort of Ellis (7 rebounds, 5 blocks and a steal) and Alex Len (2 blocks, 3 rebounds, and 6 points in 13 minutes).
Monk was complimentary of Ellis after the game. “I don’t [get] surprised with Keon – that’s what he does. Keon’s great. A great professional, too.”
“He’s getting more comfortable out there,” Fox added. “Playing heavier minutes, guarding some of the best players in the world. He did a hell of a job tonight.”
A road trip awaits Sacramento as they’ll play their next three away from the friendly confines before a matchup with the 76ers a week from tonight, the start of a five game home stretch that could go a long way for playoff seeding.
“To finish this last little stretch of [home] games on top, especially going on the road, it gives us a little more confidence,” Monk said of the impending road trip. “We know how hard it is to win on the road.”
Whether they’ll have to do it without Kevin Huerter remains to be seen, but Fox is confident in whoever suits up for Sacramento.
“Obviously with this team it’s always next man up mentality,” Fox said. “We have to be ready to play without Kev, but everybody is confident in Keon. For us, we are trying to focus on the next thing. Obviously we want Kev to be healthy but if he’s not ready to play, we still have to be ready to play.”
Mike Brown likes that his guys are figuring things out at the right time.
“We say we want to play fast, we want to be physical, and we want to play together,” Brown said. “[Defense] has to be a part of our identity. I think our guys are understanding that: it’s great because it’s coming at the right time.”
