Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. tied an NBA record and surpassed a Hall of Famer in team history following another 30-point game on Saturday.
Acuff produced 38 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 136-105 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. He finished by shooting 12-for-25 from the field in 37 minutes as the Kings fell to 0-6 to start the season.
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The seventh overall pick connected on nine 3-pointers, tying the NBA rookie record. He also became the youngest player in franchise history (19 years, 349 days) to score 30 or more points in consecutive games, surpassing Oscar Robertson.
“It is good to have a flow going, but we just got to hang our hat on the defensive end, try to come up with more stops,” Acuff said. “We got to keep communicating and try to stay together.”
Acuff is averaging 26.3 points, 6.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 32.2% from 3-point range in six appearances with the Kings. He is ninth in the league in scoring and one of four players with three 30-point performances.
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The 6-foot-2 Acuff is on a sensational scoring run with the Kings after getting the ultimate green light to shoot from coach Doug Christie. He is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to tally at least 150 points in his first six games (158).
While Acuff has emerged as a key player, the Kings have struggled on the court after dropping their first six games of the season. The group will look to bounce back Monday in Dallas.
“We have to help him; it is an absolute must,” Christie said. “The kid is special. He is highly competitive. He wants to win. I truly enjoy coaching him and watching his growth in just these games. … He is special, continues to develop, continues to compete. We put him in position to win ball games, and he is going to win a lot of them.”
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. reaches rare air after 3rd 30-point game
