Back on track. After dropping their previous two games, the Sacramento Kings picked up a much needed win Friday night in Memphis.
It wasn't an easy victory. The Grizzlies fought all the way down the wire, but with the game on the line, Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox hit a big jumper and Buddy Hield made 1-of-2 from the line to seal the 99-96 win.
Omri Casspi put up big numbers off the Grizzlies bench, finishing with 18 points. Mike Conley Jr. scored 16 to go with nine assists.
Here are three takeaways as the Kings to move to 2-3 on the road trip and 25-24 on the season.
Welcome back Nemanja
After sitting out Tuesday to rest, Nemanja Bjelica returned to the starting lineup Friday night and made a huge impact on the game.
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With his teammates looking to get him open looks, the 30-year-old forward got hot from long range, in addition to pounding the glass on the inside.
Bjelica finished the night with 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including four makes from long range. He chipped in 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal in the win.
When he is on, Bjelica has been an impact player for the Kings this season.
Buddy Hield Takeover
Hield has posted plenty of big games for the Kings this season, but it never hurts to mention him again.
After a modest first half, the third-year guard caught fire in the second half. He hit the Grizzlies for 13 points on 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the third quarter and kept it going in the fourth.
Hield finished the night with a game-high 26 points, including six makes from beyond the arc. He added seven rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
Quick as a Fox
Fox looked rejuvenated in his matchup against Mike Conley Jr. He struggled in the first quarter, turning the ball over four times in his first 10 minutes of action, but then he settled in.
Fox used his speed to get free and impact the game. He broke down the Grizzlies defense and went right to the rim to score 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting. He added six rebounds and five assists to help propel the Kings to victory.
On the downside, he committed seven of the Kings' 17 turnovers on the evening.
