Cameron Boozer's impressive start to his NBA career continued Saturday night, and the Memphis Grizzlies are making history along the way. The rookie forward delivered a career-high 27 points and nine rebounds as Memphis cruised to a 136-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings, improving to 6-0 and matching the best start in franchise history. It marks the first time the Grizzlies have opened a season with six consecutive victories since the 2014-15 campaign.
Boozer, who has quickly established himself as one of the NBA's most promising young players, was instrumental in helping Memphis remain the league's only undefeated team. The former Duke standout scored 17 of his 27 points in the third quarter, helping the Grizzlies turn a competitive matchup into a convincing victory. Boozer finished 8-of-14 from the field, knocked down three 3-pointers and made all eight of his free throw attempts in just 26 minutes.
His performance came just two days after recording his first career triple-double against the Portland Trail Blazers, continuing an impressive opening stretch to his rookie season. However, Boozer wasn't the only Memphis player making an impact. Isaiah Stewart contributed 24 points off the bench, while GG Jackson added 21 points and connected on all five of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Cam Spencer also played an important role, finishing with 10 points and 13 assists without committing a turnover. Memphis entered halftime leading 66-55 before taking complete control in the third quarter, outscoring Sacramento 42-25 to build a commanding advantage. The Grizzlies eventually stretched their lead to 34 points, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
Sacramento rookie Darius Acuff Jr. delivered an impressive performance of his own, scoring a career-high 38 points. However, his efforts weren't enough to prevent the Kings from falling to 0-6. For Memphis, the victory represents another encouraging step for a franchise looking to establish a new identity.
After winning just five of their final 33 games last season, the Grizzlies have opened the new campaign with six consecutive victories. And while there is still plenty of basketball remaining, Boozer's emergence has given Memphis another reason to believe its turnaround could be sustainable. The Grizzlies will look to make franchise history Monday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans with an opportunity to improve to 7-0 for the first time.
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