Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome scored a game-high 28 points, while Cam Spencer hit two crucial late 3-pointers as the Grizzlies held off the host Sacramento Kings for a 129-125 victory on Wednesday night.

The defeat spoiled Sacramento’s debut of De'Andre Hunter, who made his first appearance for the Kings after being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers last week. Thrust immediately into the starting lineup, Hunter scored nine points in 26 minutes, making three of 11 shots.

In a tightly contested game where neither team led by more than eight points, the Grizzlies broke a late tie when Jaylen Wells drained a 3-pointer to give Memphis a 117-114 lead with 4:21 remaining. Memphis never trailed again, as Spencer added three more baskets—including two 3-pointers—while Javon Small and GG Jackson contributed key inside scores, all at critical moments when Sacramento could have tied or taken the lead.

Spencer’s third basket, a 28-footer with 18.1 seconds left, countered a DeMar DeRozan 3-pointer just 17 seconds earlier, turning a one-point game into a 129-125 Grizzlies advantage.

Filling in for Ja Morant, Jerome shot 10-for-14 from the floor and recorded seven assists. He also made three of four 3-point attempts, while Wells went 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, helping Memphis outshoot the Kings 43.9% to 30.6% from 3-point range. The Grizzlies outscored Sacramento 54-33 from deep.

Spencer finished with 20 points, Wells had 18, Jackson 16, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 15, and Santi Aldama added 12 for Memphis, which won its second straight after a six-game losing streak. Jackson and Cedric Coward shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece, while Coward also contributed six assists.

For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis led with 24 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. DeRozan scored 20, Nique Clifford had 14, Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk added 13 each, Zach LaVine had 11, and Devin Carter contributed 10 points. DeRozan, Clifford, Westbrook, and Carter each had five assists as Sacramento suffered its 10th consecutive loss. -Field Level Media/Reuters