Darius Acuff Jr. Matches LeBron James’ Teenage Feat, But The Sacramento Kings Fall To 0-5

Darius Acuff posing in his Kings jersey.© Instagram/@dariusacuff5

The Kings are still looking for their first win, but they may have found a star. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. scored 34 points and handed out 14 assists on Thursday night, and he did it at age 19. That puts him in a tiny group that includes LeBron James. It was not enough, though. Sacramento lost 132-120 to the Pelicans and fell to 0-5.

Acuff joins LeBron in a rare club

In 41 minutes, Acuff made 13 of 26 shots and added six rebounds and a steal, and his 14 assists led all players. CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno noted he is just the fourth teenager in NBA history with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game. James did it three times, and Stephon Marbury and Luka Doncic are the others. Yardbarker adds that he is only the third Kings rookie to put up more than 30 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in one game.

The records keep coming. He is the second rookie ever to take 20 or more shots in each of his first five games, joining Wilt Chamberlain. He also passed 100 career points, the second-fastest point guard to do that behind Oscar Robertson in 1960. The 34 points topped his old high of 33 from last week against Portland.

There is a catch. Through five games he is shooting just 37.8 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from three. He also turned it over six times on Thursday. Still, with a No. 7 pick this young and this busy, the Kings have a clear building block.

How the Kings lost anyway

Sacramento led 30-24 after one quarter, then the defense fell apart. New Orleans scored back-to-back 39-point quarters, shot about 60 percent and scored 80 points in the paint. The Pelicans pulled away with a 16-2 run in the third and never trailed after the late first half.

Turnovers did the rest. The Kings gave it away 25 times, and the Pelicans' bench outscored theirs 41-8. De'Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa each scored 24, and Zach LaVine had 21. Domantas Sabonis had 15 rebounds but lost the ball seven times.

Jeremiah Fears had 22 points and a career-high 13 assists, and Zion Williamson added 22. Fears said the Pelicans are “changing this thing around.” The Kings visit Memphis on Saturday.