Acuff Ties Rookie Record as Kings Fall to 0-6
The Sacramento Kings remain winless on the young NBA season after dropping a 136-105 contest to the Memphis Grizzlies, though 19-year-old rookie Darius Acuff Jr. cemented a historic individual milestone in the defeat. Acuff knocked down nine three-pointers, tying the NBA rookie record and earning the distinction of becoming the first teenager in league history to hit that mark in a single game.
The 19-year-old finished the night with a career-high 38 points across 37 minutes on the floor. He shot 12-of-25 from the field and 9-of-14 from beyond the arc, while also chipping in five rebounds and five assists. The performance arrived just two nights after Acuff put up 34 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, pushing his total to 158 points through his first six professional games for an average of 26.3 points per contest.
From Early Struggles to Franchise History
The record-setting shooting display marked a stark turnaround from Acuff’s initial outings in the league. The rookie made zero three-pointers in his NBA debut, missing all seven of his attempts from deep, and followed it by going 2-of-11 two nights later. Through his first five games, he shot just 22.2 percent from long range.
That trajectory shifted dramatically in Memphis. After scoring just two points in the opening quarter, Acuff caught fire to tally 21 points by halftime. He poured in 13 of those points during the final six minutes of the second quarter alone, sparking a rally that trimmed an early 21-point Grizzlies lead down to 66-55 at the break. He mixed catch-and-shoot jumpers with pull-up shots off the dribble, carrying the perimeter offense for a severely shorthanded Sacramento squad.
Outside of Acuff, the rest of the Kings roster struggled mightily from deep, combining to shoot 2-of-24 from three-point range. Acuff accounted for nine of Sacramento’s 11 total made baskets from beyond the arc.
By scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games at 19 years and 349 days old, Acuff surpassed Oscar Robertson as the youngest King to achieve the feat. Robertson accomplished it at 21 years and 357 days old.
Grizzlies Remain Unbeaten Behind Boozer and Jackson
While Acuff captured the individual headlines, the Memphis Grizzlies maintained collective dominance. The Grizzlies improved to 6-0, matching the best start in franchise history and standing as the league’s only unbeaten team.
Memphis rookie Cam Boozer, the No. 3 pick, scored a career-high 27 points to earn the victory over the No. 7 pick. Teammate GG Jackson II contributed a perfect shooting night, going 5-of-5 from three-point range, as the Grizzlies used a 42-point third quarter to pull away permanently.
The Kings played through a mounting injury list, taking the floor without Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud, Ben Simmons, and Dylan Cardwell.
With a six-game sample size establishing him as the focal point of Sacramento’s offense, Acuff’s early career proves that the rookie will continue shooting until the ball goes through the net, even as the team searches for its first victory of the season.
