Game Preview: Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 25: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 25, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. The battle of Ja Morant and De’Aaron Fox

The marquee matchup of the night as it has been in the first two meetings of the season will be the battle of two of the best young guards in the league in Morant and Fox. De’Aaron had a great game the last time out, but so did Ja, and Morant has only improved as the season has gone along.

Fox is averaging 20 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7 assists a game, and has generally been the catalyst for a Kings offense that likes to put up points in droves, especially in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Morant comes in averaging 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, and has continued to blossom into a superstar role, along with frontrunner status for the NBA’s ROTY award.

Ja was able to score the last time out, as did Fox, and it will be interesting to see who will get the upper-hand on the defensive end of the court in the rematch. Ja has shown himself capable on the defensive end but inconsistent, and it is the same story in Sacramento. With both players being elite scorers in their own right, the story could come down to which of the two guards can make more stops on the other end.

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