MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 25 points and Precious Achiuwa had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings ended their longest 16-game losing streak in franchise history with a 123-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
DeMar DeRozan and DeKevin Plowden ended up with 20 points each, with Plowden scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter. Sacramento has the worst record in the NBA, having not won since beating Washington on Jan. 16.
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Javon Smalls led Memphis with 21 points and nine assists. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 points and GG Jackson scored 16 points.
The Grizzlies fought back to take the lead early in the third quarter, but the Kings responded with an 18-6 rally to establish the game’s first double-digit lead midway through the quarter.
Sacramento led 92-89 entering the fourth quarter and took a comfortable advantage on a 15-4 run on Westbrook’s 3-pointer with 8:45 left.
Injuries to key players have both teams turning to the future. Memphis is 11th in the Western Conference and has played most of its games with a cobbled-together lineup of available players. Eight Grizzlies were injured heading into Monday’s game.
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The Kings led 63-61 at halftime, with both teams shooting over 54%. With the Grizzlies lacking an active player taller than the 6-foot-9 Jackson, Sacramento had a clear height advantage, and Achiuwa had 14 points and 11 rebounds before halftime.
Next
Kings: Visit Houston on Wednesday night.
Grizzlies: Host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
