Fox, Kings Aim To Secure First Win Against Morant, Grizzlies

Oct 27, 2022, 9:33 AM | Updated: 2:37 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 26: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talks to Ja Morant #1...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

After an 0-3 start to the season, the Sacramento Kings will hope to break into the win column on Thursday night when they face a dangerous Memphis Grizzlies team.

If the Kings want to secure a win on their home floor, they will have to do so before the end of Saturday as a four-game east coast road trip will begin on Monday in Charlotte.

Beating Memphis won’t be an easy task, but Sacramento must rise to the occasion if they want to begin their ascent out of the Western Conference cellar.

Here’s everything that you need to know for tonight’s matchup:

Three games into the season, the Sacramento Kings' 0-3 start has had some positives and some glaring negatives.

Free throws have been anything but "free". De'Aaron Fox is locked in. Harrison Barnes' role is uncertain.

Three games down, 79 to go. https://t.co/UufYAiMq7A

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) October 26, 2022

Where To Watch & Listen To Kings vs Grizzlies

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 pm PST on Game Night

Tickets: Click here

What To Watch For

Fox vs Morant

The De’Aaron Fox-Ja Morant debate had quite the development last season as Morant exploded onto the scene with an All-Star season that also secured Most Improved Player of the Year award honors.

Fox has upped his game to begin this season as the 24-year-old has comparable numbers to Morant during the early stages of the regular season:

Fox: 3 games, 31.7 PTS, 5.7 REB, 7.0 AST, 1.3 STL, 59% FG, 45% 3PT
Morant: 4 games, 35.3 PTS, 4.3 REB, 7.0 AST, 1.0 STL, 54% FG, 60% 3PT

Over six head-to-head matchups, Fox and Morant have won three games each, although Fox’s numbers have been superior when the two players oppose each other on the hardwood:

(Stathead)

Expect Fox and Morant to battle it out once again as one player will take a slight advantage in the all-time head-to-head history.

Murray The Starter

At long last (well, not really, it’s been two games), Keegan Murray will start for the Kings on Thursday night.

During Wednesday’s practice session, head coach Mike Brown announced that Murray will log the first start of his NBA career. After missing the season-opener against Portland due to health & safety protocols, the rookie has played in Sacramento’s past two games and looked like a polished veteran while on the floor.

Not much is expected to change regarding Murray’s playing time as the 22-year-old already leads the team in minutes per game (35.5), as Brown stated that he values closing games over starting them. Murray has closed out the past two games, but now he will start in this one alongside De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and Domantas Sabonis.

Winning Time?

Sacramento is one of three teams in the NBA that are currently winless, joining the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic.

The Kings will hope to avoid an 0-4 start against a Grizzlies team that is currently 3-1 after defeating its opponents by an average of 6.6 points per game.

Recent History

It hasn’t been a fun couple of seasons for the Sacramento Kings when lacing up for a matchup against Memphis.

The Kings are searching for their first win against the Grizzlies since defeating them at the FedEx Forum back on February 28, 2020. Memphis currently has a six-game winning streak against Sacramento that dates back to the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

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