October 30, 2026 at 5:40 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Desperate Kings Face a Grizzlies Team That Already Has Their Number

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Memphis has the form and the depth edge against a winless, shorthanded Sacramento team.

Sacramento arrives at FedExForum at 0-4 after a 27-point loss to San Antonio, and the roster picture offers little relief. Keegan Murray is out with left ankle capsulitis, and the Kings ruled out Luke Cardwell, Raynaud and Simmons for their Thursday game. Their status for Memphis is worth monitoring. If several of those players are still sidelined, Sacramento's wing and frontcourt depth stays thin, and a team already searching for answers has fewer ways to find them.

Memphis has the more stable footing. The Grizzlies opened 3-0 with a win in Sacramento, and Ty Jerome has been the engine. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week after a 31-point night in which he went a perfect 14-for-14 from the line, added six assists, and made the late steal off Zach LaVine that sealed the win. That kind of shot creation and composure matters against a team that has trouble getting stops.

The first meeting also shows how Sacramento can hurt Memphis. LaVine scored 37, and the Kings tied the game with under six minutes left before the Grizzlies won 123-112. Memphis did that without Zach Edey, who sat out to manage his ankle on the first night of a back-to-back. His availability here is uncertain, and his presence would only strengthen a Memphis side that already handled Sacramento without him.

Expect the Kings to compete, with LaVine keeping them within range for stretches. But their injuries and their slump should catch up with them over four quarters, and Jerome's steady playmaking gives Memphis the edge in the closing minutes. I'll take the Grizzlies, 121-110.

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