Road adversity hasn’t fazed the Memphis Grizzlies early in the 2026-27 NBA season.
For the second time in three games, the Grizzlies faced some difficulty in the fourth quarter, this time against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 25 at the Golden 1 Center. Memphis also rolled out its third different starting lineup in as many games.
The result, however, remained the same. The Grizzlies knocked off the Kings 123-112 to improve to 3-0, marking the third time in franchise history that Memphis has started a season with three consecutive wins.
The Grizzlies will look to keep their momentum going on the road against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 26 (8 p.m. CT, DAZN-MEM).
Here are three takeaways from Memphis’ win over Sacramento.
Closing out strong
The Grizzlies last trailed with 9:59
remaining in the second quarter. Sacramento made a push early in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 106-106 and forcing Memphis to call a timeout. The Grizzlies responded with an 8-0 run and maintained control the rest of the way.
They have put together the 8-0 run and a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter the past two games. The Grizzlies are developing a knack for playing their best basketball when it matters most.
Ty Jerome finding other ways
Point guard Ty Jerome has been a major reason for Memphis’ success in crunch time. He finished with 31 points in the win over Sacramento.
His performance was particularly impressive considering he made just one of his six 3-point attempts. He shot 8-for-17 from the field while facing heavy attention from the Kings’ defense.
Still, the crafty guard used his size and savvy to get to the free-throw line 14 times, converting every attempt. He also had six assists and finished a team-high plus-27 in 32 minutes.
Utah primarily played drop coverage against Jerome in the season opener. Golden State and Sacramento took different approaches, mixing in blitzes and traps to get the ball out of his hands.
Jerome has shown that he can remain productive regardless of how opponents choose to defend him. That versatility is exactly what Memphis needs as teams continue to adjust to his early-season success.
Adjusting without Zach Edey
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo was particularly impressed with the win because Memphis secured it without center Zach Edey.
Playing the first game of a back-to-back set, the Grizzlies held Edey out against Sacramento. He is expected to be available against Utah on Oct. 26.
Edey is an important piece of their plans, and they still found a way to get the job done without him. Isaiah Stewart stepped into the starting lineup and finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
Taylor Hendricks and Quinten Post also saw time at center as Memphis adjusted its rotation.
The performance wasn’t always pretty, but the Grizzlies finished with a 54-44 rebounding advantage. That kind of collective effort on the boards has been difficult for them to consistently produce when Edey has been unavailable.
Cam Boozer and Cedric Coward each grabbed 11 rebounds, and every other starter finished with at least four.
With Edey sitting, the Grizzlies made up for his absence through a collective effort on the glass and contributions throughout the lineup.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ty Jerome stars with craftiness, other takeaways from Grizzlies' win vs Kings
