Jerome Scores 31 as Grizzlies Beat Kings 123-112 to Stay Unbeaten

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 123-112 on Sunday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Ty Jerome led Memphis with 31 points and a team-high 6 assists, and the Grizzlies improved to 3-0 while Sacramento fell to 0-3.

Sacramento led 28-25 after the first quarter. Memphis took the lead for good with 9:59 left in the second quarter, scored 42 points in that quarter and made 12 3-pointers in the first half to lead 67-59 at halftime. The lead grew to 83-69, a 14-point margin, in the third quarter. Memphis won the fourth quarter 27-22 and finished with quarter scores of 25, 42, 29 and 27, against 28, 31, 31 and 22 for Sacramento.

Jerome closes it after the Kings tie the game

Sacramento tied the game at 106-106 on a three-point play by Domantas Sabonis with 5:41 remaining. Memphis scored the next 11 points. Isaiah Stewart completed a three-point play, Cedric Coward tipped in a miss by Cameron Boozer, and Jerome scored six straight points, three on a 27-footer and three on an 8-footer plus the foul shot. Sacramento, down 117-106 with 3:57 to play, got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Jerome made all 14 of his free throw attempts and shot 8 of 17 from the field in 32 minutes. His perfect night at the line held up through the late run that settled the game.

Balance behind Jerome for Memphis

Boozer had 16 points and 11 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double. Coward, back after missing one game with left wrist soreness, had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three made 3-pointers. Jaylen Wells scored 16 points, and Stewart and Cam Spencer added 13 points each for Memphis.

Memphis rested star center Zach Edey on the first night of a road back-to-back set, and Stewart started at center in his place. Grizzlies forward Karim Lopez was a late add to the injury report and was out with a right knee contusion.

LaVine scores 37 in the loss

Zach LaVine was the game high scorer with 37 points for Sacramento. Rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. had 22 points and a game-high 7 assists. Sabonis had 15 points and 15 rebounds while fighting foul trouble much of the night, and Precious Achiuwa added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Kings head coach Doug Christie pointed to the second quarter after the game. "I have to figure out a way to help them through their fight, the way that they are battling, they are putting themselves in it," Christie said. "Tonight it was the second quarter plus 11. And that is usually the difference in the game."

Memphis has started a season 3-0 for the third time in franchise history, and the Grizzlies play at Utah on Monday night, October 26. Sacramento has lost all three of its games so far this season.