De’Aaron Fox returns but Kings get bullied by Jonas Valanciunas in loss to Grizzlies
De’Aaron Fox returned to the lineup, but the Kings couldn’t rediscover the winning brand of basketball that helped them get over .500 during their recent hot streak.
Jonas Valanciunas recorded a double-double to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 124-110 victory over the Kings on Sunday night at Golden 1 Center. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center was virtually unstoppable, making 11 of 14 from the field to finish with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Dillon Brooks had 22 points for the Grizzlies (11-11). Ja Morant had 16 points and 10 assists.
Fox returned from a left knee contusion to post 23 points and nine assists to lead the Kings (12-14), who have lost three in a row after winning seven of eight. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton came off the bench to post 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Kings shot 50% from the field, but they were 8 of 33 from 3-point range. The Grizzlies shot 53.2% and amassed a 43-33 rebounding advantage.
“You have to play this game every single night at a certain level,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “We’re still learning that lesson and it can be painful at times.”
Kings forward Harrison Barnes went around Valanciunas with ease to get a bucket on the opening possession, but the Kings looked completely out of sorts on the next several possessions. They missed their next eight shots, committed a careless turnover and paid the price, falling behind 13-2 in the opening minutes.
The Kings trailed 30-22 after going 1 of 11 from 3-point range with four turnovers in the first quarter. They fell behind by 16 before Morant even got his first basket of the game with 5:03 to play in the first half. Memphis led 62-46 at the break after holding the Kings to 37.8% shooting. Sacramento made 17 of 45 from the field and just 4 of 24 (.167) from 3-point range.
The Kings cut the deficit to 11 early in the second half, but a series of 3-point bombs from Grayson Allen, Valanciunas and Kyle Anderson helped the Grizzlies go up by as many as 24 late in the third quarter.
“We’ve just got to play harder for 48 minutes,” Haliburton said. “We just have mental lapses for short periods of time. In the NBA, these are the best players in the world. They’re going to make you pay for it if you’re not locked in.”
Bagley ruled out
Kings forward Marvin Bagley III missed his second game due to a sore left calf. Bagley was ruled out shortly before tipoff after being listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
Walton said Bagley is considered day-to-day. He will be reevaluated before the Kings determine his status for Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Bagley, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Duke, appeared in only 13 games last season due to injuries, but he had been healthy since recovering from COVID-19 at the start of training camp. Over the first 24 games, Bagley averaged 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds. He is shooting 47.3% from the field and 37.3% from 3-point range.
Cory Joseph resurgence
Cory Joseph had another productive outing after breaking out of a slump in Friday’s loss to the Magic.
Joseph made a couple of 3-pointers in the second quarter to help the Kings hang around for a while. He went on to finish with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with three rebounds and two steals against the Grizzlies.
The 29-year-old guard had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with five assists against Orlando on Friday after struggling for some time. In the six previous games, Joseph scored a total of 11 points, making just 5 of 19 (.263) from the field and 1 of 8 (.125) from 3-point range.
Up next
The Kings will get their first look at the Nets (16-12) when they continue this five-game homestand Monday, but they won’t see 10-time All-Star Kevin Durant. The former MVP will miss at least the next two games after being diagnosed with a mild left hamstring strain Sunday.
Durant is averaging 29.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nets after missing the 2019-20 season with an Achilles injury. He is shooting 52.4% from the field and a career-high 43.4% from 3-point range.
The Nets still have plenty of firepower, of course, with Kyrie Irving and James Harden, who was acquired last month in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets. Irving is averaging 27.6 points per game. Harden is averaging 23.0 points, 11.6 assists and 8.1 rebounds.
The Kings will face the Nets again Feb. 23 when they go to Brooklyn during their upcoming five-game road trip.
Injury report
Grizzlies: QUESTIONABLE — Brandon Clarke (calf); Sean McDermott (shoulder). OUT — Desmond Bane (personal); Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee); De’Anthony Melton (shoulder); Jontay Porter (G League); Killian Tillie (foot); Justise Winslow (hip).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Marvin Bagley III (calf); De’Aaron Fox (knee). OUT — Jahmi’us Ramsey (G League); Robert Woodard II (G League).
Kings upcoming schedule
Feb. 14 vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m.
Feb. 18 vs. Miami Heat, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Chicago Bulls, 5 p.m.
Feb. 21 at Milwaukee Bucks, 5 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Brooklyn Nets, 4:30 p.m.
This story was originally published February 14, 2021 at 9:37 PM.
