Acuff impresses in preseason debut, but Lakers steamroll Kings

Sacramento never found its shooting touch, finishing the night just 4-of-23 (17%) from beyond the arc.

Veterans Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine both finished their nights at halftime, leaving the younger players to handle most of the second half with the game already out of reach.

One of the biggest bright spots was second-year guard Nique Clifford, who led Sacramento with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting while adding nine rebounds in 28 minutes.

Dylan Cardwell also provided an encouraging performance off the bench, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Maxime Raynaud had 12 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes, although the second-year big also committed five turnovers.

For the Kings, the final result wasn’t particularly meaningful on the first night of preseason. The shooting struggles and defensive issues, however, provided plenty to work on.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings goes in for a layup after stealing the ball from the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the preseason game at Golden 1 Center on October 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Acuff’s performance offered the biggest reason for optimism, as the seventh overall pick looked confident, aggressive, and comfortable running the offense alongside Sacramento’s veterans, especially after his widely covered shooting struggles in Summer League.

Over 27 minutes, Acuff scored 19 points on eight-of-17 (47%) shooting, along with four assists and five turnovers. During his performance in Summer League, Acuff shot just 35 percent from the field.

“Summer League, the intensity is not the same,” Acuff said postgame, stating that the pace of play in Saturday’s preseason opener was more comfortable for him. “It was a learning experience.”

Christie was impressed by the rookie’s performance, stating that Acuff already plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

“His poise is at a really high level. He’s not ducking the smoke; he’s not scared. He’s about his business,” Christie said postgame. “There are times when I don’t have to call anything. He’ll look at me and already have a play in mind.”

Head coach Doug Christie let the kids play on Monday, as Acuff, Cardwell, Clifford, Raynaud, and rookies Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp played the bulk of the Kings’ minutes.

Sacramento will ramp up its veterans’ playing time in the coming games, with Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Ben Simmons all set to slide into the rotation in the coming days.

Simmons Sits

Outside of Darius Acuff Jr., Ben Simmons’ Sacramento Kings debut is arguably the most anticipated by the fanbase, but the former first-overall pick did not suit up for Monday’s preseason opener.

Simmons, who inked a one-year deal with Sacramento before training camp, is healthy and will make his preseason debut on Thursday in Los Angeles or Saturday at Golden State, per ESPN’S Marc Spears.

Per Spears, the Kings will be cautious with Simmons as he returns to the NBA after a one-year absence, largely to heal from previous injuries and get his body right.

Keegan Murray and Malik Monk also sat out for Sacramento, with both players getting their next chance to play on Thursday.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Jerry Reynolds: Why the Sacramento Kings could outperform low win projections
• Doug Christie: Nothing I read about Ben Simmons was true
• Zach LaVine says he has ‘a lot left in the tank’ ahead of 13th season
• Ben Simmons is ready for a fresh start with the Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings Schedule: 2026-27 Preseason

• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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