Salmons Helps Kings Surge Past Grizzlies 116-113

The Sacramento Kings climbed back from a 10 point deficit in the fourth quarter as they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday 116-113. John?Salmons who has at times been a one man show for the Kings as the team has been beset by injuries, did it again in this game with a double-double 28 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists. Four of the Kings starters scored 20 or more points, as?Sacramento got 97 of their 116 points from just the four players.

The Kings came?out of the gate strong as they led the Grizzlies 30-24?at the end of the first quarter, but Memphis got hot in the second quarter grabbing a 56-54 lead at the half. The Grizzlies increased their lead to 85-81 at the end of the third and appeared to have things well in hand as they led 97-87 with 6:31 left in the game. But that’s when the Kings went off, going on a 10-2 run trailing 99-97. Memphis got the lead back up to five at 104-99, but the Kings kept coming back. Finally with 7 seconds left in the game Francisco Garcia put Sacramento ahead at 114-113 with a 23 foot trey. Rudy Gay who otherwise had a killer game for Memphis, lost the ball, and Pau Gasol had to foul Brad Miller who made both his free throws.

Salmons shot 12-21 from the 4-5 from the line for his 28 points, Beno Udrih scored 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals. Miller had a double-double for the Kings, 22 points, 10 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, Garcia also scored 22 points, a game high 4 steals, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist.

Gay shot 9-13 from the floor, 4-7 from outside the arc, 9-10 from the line for a game high 31 points, 7 boards, 2 assist, 2 steals. Gasol scored 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, Mike Miller 18 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal. Michael Conley Jr. scored 15 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, Juan Carlos?Navarro scored 10 points coming off the bench, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound. The Kings are now 14-20, while Memphis is now 10-25.