Grizzlies defeat Kings 123-112 to improve to 3-0 start
Ty Jerome scores 31 points and Memphis overcomes Zach Edey's absence with a strong collective rebounding effort on the road.
The Memphis Grizzlies continued their strong start to the 2026-27 NBA season on October 25, defeating the Sacramento Kings 123-112 at the Golden 1 Center. With the victory, the Grizzlies improved to a 3-0 record, marking only the third time in franchise history that the team has won its first three consecutive games of a season.
Memphis led for the majority of the contest after taking control in the second quarter. However, the Sacramento Kings mounted a comeback early in the final period, erasing the deficit and tying the game at 106-106 to force a Memphis timeout. Responding to the pressure, the Grizzlies executed a decisive run—noted as an 8-0 or 11-0 surge across reports—to regain command and secure the double-digit win.
Point guard Ty Jerome fueled the offensive output for Memphis, finishing with a team-high 31 points and six assists in 32 minutes of play. Despite facing aggressive defensive strategies from Sacramento, including blitzes and traps, and making only one of his six attempts from beyond the arc, Jerome capitalized on his opportunities by converting all 14 of his free-throw attempts.
The Grizzlies achieved the road victory while playing without starting center Zach Edey, who was held out for the first game of a back-to-back set. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo adjusted his rotation by inserting Isaiah Stewart into the starting lineup, where he contributed 13 points and five rebounds, alongside minutes from Taylor Hendricks and Quinten Post.
To compensate for Edey's absence in the paint, Memphis relied on a collective effort on the boards to out-rebound Sacramento 54-44. Rookie Cameron Boozer recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds, while returning player Cedric Coward added 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three three-pointers. Every other Grizzlies starter also grabbed at least four rebounds.
On the losing side, the Sacramento Kings fell to an 0-3 record on the young season despite a game-high 37 points from guard Zach LaVine. The Kings struggled to slow down the Memphis offense down the stretch and continue to seek their first victory.
Looking ahead, the Memphis Grizzlies will look to maintain their undefeated momentum when they travel to face the Utah Jazz on October 26.