Acuff scores 38, but Kings get blown out in Memphis

Darius Acuff Jr. had 38 points on 9/14 3P shooting, but the Sacramento Kings couldn't slow the Grizzlies as they fell 136-105 in Memphis.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Oct 31, 2026, 7:42 PM

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against ...

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Darius Acuff had an impressive game, but the Sacramento Kings suffered a convincing loss. Sound familiar?

Against the league’s only remaining undefeated team, Memphis improved to 6-0 while Sacramento fell to 0-6 after a 136-105 loss on Halloween night.

The Kings were without Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud, Ben Simmons, and Dylan Cardwell, while the home team missed Ty Jerome, one of the NBA’s leading scorers, Quentin Post, and Scotty Pippen Jr.

Acuff finished with 38 points, five assists, and five rebounds while shooting 9/14 from three, a new Sacramento rookie record. His teammates went 2/24 from beyond the arc, while Memphis converted 19/38 as a team.

Outscoring 81-20 in bench points, head coach Doug Christie has still gotten minimal production from his reserves as they remain winless.

Sacramento Kings @ Memphis Grizzlies Game Notes

Sacramento got off to a 7-0 start, with De’Andre Hunter’s three-point shooting continuing from where he left off last game in New Orleans. After committing a few turnovers, they conceded fastbreak points on the other end, allowing the Grizzlies to respond with eight straight.

Offensive rebounds are a huge part of Memphis’ early-season success, and that continued as they managed back-breaking second-chance points. Zach LaVine’s isolation scoring appeared before he was part of the first substitution as the game was tied at 11.

Rookie Emanuel Sharp was the first reserve to enter for head coach Doug Christie, with Malik Monk and Nique Clifford not far behind. Clifford, who has hardly seen the floor in the opening stretch of the season, logged just over three minutes before being replaced by Jonathan Mogbo, presumably for rebounding.

Down 27-21 at the end of one, Memphis had six second-chance points on six offensive rebounds. They found some success from three, while Sacramento was more reliant on free throws (8/8).

The second quarter was where things went downhill fairly quickly, though. Open threes continued to rain down, with GG Jackson catching fire from beyond the arc. His fourth made three on as many attempts left the Kings down 49-29 with just under seven minutes remaining.

Forcing turnovers allowed the Kings to come back, with Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer committing seven before half himself.

Attempting to bring his side back into it, Acuff took matters into his own hands. A pair of catch-and-shoot threes got him rolling before he started converting off-the-dribble looks from distance en route to a 51-40 run.

DARIUS. ACUFF. JR.

Shakes his defender and drills the 3!

A game-high 21 points through two quarters for the @SacramentoKings’ rookie 😮‍💨 https://t.co/hA98OwsWvL

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2026

Sacramento’s offensively talented rookie went 5/6 from three in the second, leading all scorers at the half with 21 points. Hunter managed 15 points as well. Memphis’ bench outscored the Kings 40-10, led by Jackson (15) and Isaiah Stewart (15).

Third-quarter meltdowns have been a theme for the Kings in recent seasons, including the start of 2026-27, and Halloween night was no different. The home side went on a 12-2 run to take an 82-60 lead.

Acuff kept rolling, but the Kings’ defense couldn’t slow anyone down. It was a rookie battle, and Boozer was heavily involved after a rough first half. The Kings’ interior defense was lackluster, and closing out on shooters didn’t seem much better.

Allowing 40 points in a quarter is never a recipe for success, and it’s become commonplace for them this season. Down 108-80 as the final 12 minutes were put on the clock, it was going to take a Halloween miracle for Sacramento to get their first win.

Sabonis had just one field-goal attempt in the first three, but got a bit more involved in the final frame.

That magic never showed up. Acuff kept cashing in threes, but their defense never showed up en route to a 136-105 loss.

Sacramento’s standout rookie finished with 38 points, five assists, and five rebounds while shooting 9/14 from three, a new Sacramento rookie record. His teammates went 2/24 from beyond the arc, while Memphis converted 19/38 as a team.

Outscoring 81-20 in bench points, head coach Doug Christie has still gotten minimal production from his reserves as they remain winless.

The Kings fall to 0-6. While Memphis remains the lone undefeated team in the NBA at 6-0.