Russell Westbrook scored 25 points and Precious Achiuwa added 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings ended their franchise-record 16-game losing streak with a 123-114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
The victory was Sacramento’s first since Jan. 16 and came after weeks of frustration for a team that entered with the league’s worst record. DeMar DeRozan and Daeqwon Plowden each scored 19 points, with Plowden pouring in 10 during the fourth quarter to help seal it.
Memphis got 21 points and nine assists from Javon Smalls, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 and GG Jackson added 16. The Grizzlies briefly grabbed the lead early in the third quarter before Sacramento responded with an 18-6 run to build the game’s first double-digit advantage.
The Kings carried a 92-89 lead into the fourth, then created separation with a decisive 15-4 burst. Westbrook capped the run with a 3-pointer with 8:45 remaining, pushing the margin into comfortable territory.
Sacramento led 63-61 at halftime in a high-efficiency first half that saw both teams shoot better than 54 percent. With Memphis lacking size — no active player taller than 6-foot-9 — the Kings leaned on their frontcourt edge. Achiuwa dominated early with 14 points and 11 rebounds before the break.
Both teams have been hit hard by injuries. Memphis, which had eight players on the injury list Monday, sits 11th in the Western Conference and has relied heavily on patchwork lineups.
Up next:
The Kings visit Houston on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies host Golden State.
