Jonas Valanciunas carries Grizzlies past Kings

[February 15, 2021]  Jonas Valanciunas scored 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting and collected 13 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies cruise to a 124-110 victory over the host Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Dillon Brooks scored 22 points and Kyle Anderson added 17 to go with a season-best four steals as the Grizzlies won for just the second time in the past seven games.

Ja Morant contributed 16 points and 10 assists, Brandon Clarke added 13 points, Xavier Tillman scored 12 and Grayson Allen had 10 for Memphis.

De'Aaron Fox recorded 23 points and nine assists for the Kings after missing one game due to a knee injury.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 points, Cory Joseph matched his season best of 16 points and Richaun Holmes had 13 for Sacramento, which lost its third consecutive game.

Desmond Bane (death in the family) missed his second straight game for Memphis, while Sacramento's Marvin Bagley III (calf) also sat out for the second consecutive contest.

The Grizzlies shot 53.2 percent from the field, including 9 of 21 from 3-point range.

Sacramento shot 50 percent overall but was a dismal 8 of 33 from 3-point range.

The Kings trailed by 24 late in the third quarter before narrowing the gap to 114-103 on a three-point play by Glenn Robinson III with 4:38 remaining in the game.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Grayson Allen (3) dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento later crept within 10 before Morant knocked down a jumper and Valanciunas scored two inside baskets to give the Grizzlies a 124-108 lead with 1:22 left en route to closing it out.

Harrison Barnes scored the game's first basket for the Kings before Memphis rolled off 13 straight points and never trailed again.

The Grizzlies later used a 10-0 burst to open up a 47-31 lead with 5:27 left in the second quarter. Memphis led 62-46 at the break with Brooks leading the way with 18 points.

The Grizzlies boosted their advantage to 20 points when John Konchar made two free throws to make it 92-72 with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Anderson and Konchar followed with baskets to increase the margin to 24 before Memphis took a 99-79 lead into the final stanza.

--Field Level Media
 

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