Two big men off to fast starts on opposite ends of the floor go head-to-head Sunday night when Zach Edey and the Memphis Grizzlies visit Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings.
Edey drew high praise from Golden State coach Steve Kerr after his 10 rebounds and two blocks contributed to Memphis’ 111-108 road win over the Warriors on Friday.
The 7-foot-3 center recorded a plus-25 plus/minus, equaling the fifth-best of his three-year NBA career. He also found time for eight points, three assists and a steal.
“Give them credit — they did a great job of defending us,” Kerr told the media after watching the Grizzlies hold the Warriors to two points over the final 3:47, as the visitors rallied from a 106-94 deficit. Edey blocked a Stephen Curry 3-point attempt during the run.
“I thought Zach, his defense down the stretch, was really good,” Kerr continued. “(He made) things difficult for us.”
Edey had similar numbers — six points, nine rebounds, two blocks and a plus-19 plus/minus, when the Grizzlies opened the season with a home win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Having watched Golden State attempt to attack his big man in a variety of ways, Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo came away impressed with how his 305-pounder handled every challenge.
“He was on (Graham) Ike. He was on (Draymond) Green. He was on (Gary) Payton (II). I think he was on (Al) Horford,” Iisalo noted to reporters after the game. “(He) found a way to impact the game against all of these guys.
“He’s incredibly athletic. He finds a way within the game to make winning plays.”
As the Grizzlies attempt to open 3-0 for the first time since 2017, Edey and Sabonis will meet for the third time. The Kings have won on both previous occasions, but Sabonis has been held to an average of just 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
The Sacramento star has been significantly more productive in the Kings’ first two games this season. He had 14 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in an opening road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, then posted the 69th triple-double of his 11-year career with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists when Sacramento dropped its home opener to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
Sabonis admitted after the game he’d gladly have traded some of his baskets for assists and looks forward to being more of a passer than a shooter in games ahead.
“Move the ball,” he expressed to the media. “Get me the ball more so I can swing it and get guys open. We’re best when we kind of mix it up — point guard shoots, point guard hits the corner, point guard hits me, then I can make the read. That’s where I’m best.”
The game also pits two of the June draft’s top seven selections for the first time as professionals. While Memphis’ Cameron Boozer and Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. have both experienced individual success, only Boozer has an NBA win to his credit.
Boozer played a critical role in the Grizzlies’ win at Golden State, hitting a go-ahead shot from in the key with 20.1 seconds remaining to cap a 25-point, 13-rebound performance.
Ninety miles up the road, meanwhile, Acuff went for 33 points in the Kings’ loss to Portland.
