Memphis is 5-0 and second in the West after a 124-103 win at Portland finished a four-game road trip without a loss. Four of the next five games are at FedExForum, starting Saturday against the Kings.
How did a 58-58 game at the half turn into a 21-point win?
Memphis won the second half 66-45. A 10-0 run late in the third did the damage, and a 13-0 run midway through the fourth put it away, with the lead peaking at 24. Isaiah Stewart scored 18 off the bench in 16 minutes, eight of them in the fourth. ESPN reported that Ja Morant left with a hamstring injury in his first game against his old team.
Is Cameron Boozer already running this offense?
Looks that way. The 19-year-old scored 18, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out 12 assists over 28 minutes, hit 4 of 5 threes and finished plus-20. The Athletic reported that makes him the second-youngest player ever to record a triple-double. He came in shooting 34.4 percent from three, so the four makes count as much as the passing.
What do the Kings bring to FedExForum Saturday?
Not much. Sacramento is 0-5 and comes in without Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell. Memphis beat them 123-112 on Oct. 25, when Ty Jerome scored 31. The number to know: Memphis carries a plus-11.9 net rating, the Kings minus-15.7. Domantas Sabonis is averaging 16.2 rebounds, so the glass is where this one gets decided.
Who plays center when it matters?
Zach Edey was minus-4 in 19 minutes at Portland, while Stewart was plus-18. Tuomas Iisalo closed with Cam Spencer, Boozer, Cedric Coward, Stewart and Jaylen Wells, with no Edey. Against Sabonis, does Iisalo stay small late or give the big minutes back to Edey? Quinten Post is day-to-day on his right ankle and is expected back Saturday.
Did Cameron Boozer get a triple-double against the Trail Blazers?
Yes. He had 18 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in the 124-103 win at Portland on Oct. 29.
Will Quinten Post play against the Kings?
Post is listed day-to-day with a right ankle issue. His expected return date is Oct. 31, the day of the Kings game.
