Kings Beat Grizzlies for Joerger: ‘He Really Wanted That One'

SACRAMENTO -- Sometimes a game means a little bit more than just one of 82. For Dave Joerger, beating his former team is gratifying, whether he wants to admit it or not, especially when that team is in the middle of major playoff push.

"I know he really wanted that one, you could tell before and during the game," veteran point guard Darren Collison said of his head coach after the Kings' 91-90 over the Memphis Grizzlies. "Anytime you go against your former team it definitely means a lot."

Everyone noticed the change in Joerger. Be it in film prep or in walk-through, something was different. Despite the playoff chase being over, Joerger turned to his veterans and they delivered in the clutch.

"Anytime you play against your former team, whether it be a coach or a player, you have a little more energy, you have a little more incentive to win," Anthony Tolliver said.

Ten Kings players saw court time, but both Skal Labissiere and Langston Galloway played sparingly as Joerger tightened his rotation. All five starters played 30 minutes or more, with Collison seeing a team-high 37 minutes.

The veteran point guard finished with a game-high 23 points and seven assists in the win. His free throws with 5.7 seconds remaining pushed the Kings into the lead and Memphis' last ditch effort to win the game at the buzzer rimmed out.

"The more games we win, it's going to be better for these young guys," Collison said. "It's very hard to win in this league and winning is contagious."

This was the second straight victory for Sacramento after dropping four in a row. The team is now 5-12 since the All-Star break and they are 4-4 over their last eight games.

"We're competing and that's the biggest thing - we're not laying down," Willie Cauley-Stein said. "Even though we're not in the playoff race, we're playing like we're in the playoff race and that's bigtime."

Cauley-Stein continued his strong play since the break. The second-year big posted 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out three assists in 33 minutes. He played solid defense on veteran Zach Randolph down the stretch.

It was a team effort. Four players scored in double-figures, including rookie Buddy Hield, who scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. Big man Kosta Koufos added 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Ty Lawson finished with 10 points in 19 minutes of action.

Following the game, Joerger alluded to this being the final time we will see many of the veterans playing major minutes together. With just eight games remaining in the season, it's time to give the young core the reigns and let them show what they can do.

"This was maybe our last stand for the year as far as you're probably not going to see all those veterans play together for the rest of the season," said Joerger. "It's at home, it's a great opportunity. The guys went out there and laid it all on the line."

The Kings return to their home court on Wednesday when the Utah Jazz roll through Golden 1 Center. Of their remaining eight games on the schedule, Sacramento has four home contests and four on the road. They'll finish the 2016-17 season on April 12 in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

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