Preview: Kings look to push win streak to three vs. Grizzlies

Jan 3, 2025, 9:00 AM | Updated: 10:47 am

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings will round out a rollercoaster of a week on Friday night when they face the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center.

Since last week, Sacramento has experienced every emotion imaginable. Mike Brown’s sudden firing preceded the team’s first six-game losing streak in nearly three years, but back-to-back wins on their home floor have instilled a sense of confidence around interim head coach Doug Christie’s group.

Trailing by nine points with less than four minutes remaining in Wednesday’s matchup against Philadelphia, the Kings held the 76ers scoreless for the final 3:38 of regulation en route to using a 15-0 run that sealed a thrilling win.

“That is the type of fight we expect on a night-to-night basis,” Christie said following Sacramento’s second-straight win. “I challenged them to get three stops in a row. They locked in. Super proud of that.”

Now, the Kings (15-19) hope to use the past two games as a building block—or step ladder—to continue climbing out of their hole and reinsert themselves in the Western Conference postseason race.

Facing a depleted Grizzlies (23-11) team on Friday will act as Sacramento’s third straight game facing an injury-plagued roster–Dallas without Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, then Philadelphia without Joel Embiid–but it doesn’t matter.

In the same way that teams weren’t feeling sorry for the Kings earlier in the season as they dealt with injuries to Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento won’t feel sorry for Memphis or any other opponents that enter play missing key pieces.

The Kings need wins by any means necessary, and Friday’s game against the Grizzlies isn’t any different.

Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies Info

When: 7:00 PM PT

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California, NBA League Pass (for out-of-market viewers)

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys

Line: Kings -3.5, O/U 238.5

Tickets: Click here

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Grizzlies coverage, beginning at 2:00 PM PST on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Carter Watch

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kings rookie Devin Carter is set to make his NBA debut on Friday night against Memphis.

Carter, the 13th overall pick from June’s NBA Draft, has been recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Following two tune-up games with G-League affiliate Stockton, including a strong performance on Thursday night, Carter is set to take the floor at Golden 1 Center.

It’s unknown how much run Carter will get on the second night of a back-to-back, especially when considering the fact that the dynamic guard has been working on his conditioning in his return to play.

After playing 33 minutes not even 24 hours ago, Carter will likely see less playing time behind De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Keon Ellis, although Keegan Murray’s doubtful status could throw a wrench in that notion.

Over two appearances with Stockton, Carter averaged 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from three-point range (9.5 attempts per contest).

More Keon

Keegan Murray (left ankle soreness) missed Wednesday’s game against the 76ers, and the third-year forward appears unlikely to suit up against Memphis as he deals with a nagging ankle injury.

With Murray out of action, Doug Christie called on defensive guard Keon Ellis to slide into the starting lineup alongside De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis–a move that many fans have been calling for since Ellis’ early-season removal from the starting unit.

Ellis logged a season-high 38 minutes of playing time against Philadelphia, swiping four steals, blocking two shots, and scoring nine points on three-of-eight shooting from beyond the three-point line.

At a time when Sacramento lacked perimeter defense and three-point shooting, Ellis looked like an option that could provide relief in both categories. Ellis is now shooting 42 percent from deep this season on 3.3 attempts per game, leading all Kings players (min. three attempts per game).

Ellis’ defense speaks for itself, as the third-year guard possesses the ability to play lock-down defense in isolation scenarios while being active in the passing and driving lanes.

Domantas Sabonis on Keon Ellis stepping up in the absence of Keegan Murray:

“He’s amazing… he’s always there when we need him… Today he had a great game and it’s nothing new.” pic.twitter.com/SfkLtRQPvl

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 2, 2025

Consistent playing time has been a longstanding issue with Ellis, who never seemed to gain the full confidence needed from previous head coach Mike Brown.

Ellis will likely get another look in the starting lineup if Murray cannot play on Friday, where he will hope to lengthen his leash with Christie and prove he belongs in the rotation going forward.

Three-Point Problems

Early-season concerns surrounding the Kings’ three-point shooting have become a reality as Sacramento enters play against Memphis holding 24th or worse rankings in every offensive three-point category (attempts, makes, and field goal percentage).

After appearing to right the ship from beyond the arc in early December, the bottom has fallen back out of the Kings’ shooting, especially over the past six games (30%).

Sacramento is 4-8 (.333) this season when shooting under 30 percent from deep, and one of those wins came on Wednesday night against the 76ers (9/31, 29%).

Finding ways to win without the long ball isn’t ideal, seeing that it makes the Kings one-dimensional and allows opposing defenses to focus on the paint and mid-range.

K3️⃣ON 3️⃣LLIS 🏹🔥 pic.twitter.com/2nzKsXhYLa

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 2, 2025

Keegan Murray (28%) and Kevin Huerter (30%) have been horrible from three-point land, and De’Aaron Fox (32%) has regressed following a career-year from deep last season.

It’s possible that Sacramento is due to turn things around, but as the season continues to unfold, something has to give. Can the Kings find the bottom of the net against the shorthanded Grizzlies? Memphis enters play with the top three-point defense in the league, holding opponents to an average of 33 percent this season, but many impact players will not be in uniform on Friday.

We’ll see if Sacramento can capitalize on the Grizzlies’ personnel change and improve its low three-point numbers.

Notes

Sacramento has been sloppy during its two-game winning streak, turning the ball over 16 and 17 times. Interestingly enough, the Kings are 6-5 (.545) when turning the ball over 15+ times this season.
De’Aaron Fox has been on a tear as of late, scoring 30+ in back-to-back games and averaging 29.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists over his past six games.