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Darius Acuff Jr. scores 32 with 10 assists and joins Oscar Robertson in the record books, but the Kings fall to the Heat
Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. had 32 points and 10 assists in a 114-108 loss to Miami. He joins Oscar Robertson as the only players with 250 points and 70 assists in their first 10 games.
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Darius Acuff Jr. scored 32 points and handed out 10 assists on Sunday night, and the Sacramento Kings still lost, 114-108 to the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Center. The rookie shot 11-of-21 from the field, 3-of-7 from three and 7-of-7 at the line in 39 minutes, with 5 rebounds and a steal.
It was the second 30-point, 10-assist game of his career. The NBA said Acuff, who turns 20 on Nov. 16, is now one of two teenagers in league history with more than one such game. The other is LeBron James, who had three.
Acuff’s 32 points and 10 assists against Miami. Video via the NBA on X.
In company with Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain
Through the first 10 games of his career, Acuff has 259 points and 74 assists. The NBA said the only other player to reach 250 points and 70 assists in his first 10 games was Oscar Robertson in 1960-61.
Sunday was also his fourth 30-point game. The Kings said he is the seventh player in NBA history with at least four 30-point games in his first 10, along with Wilt Chamberlain (8), Terry Dischinger (6), George Mikan (5), Walt Bellamy (4), Elvin Hayes (4) and Bernard King (4).
The four: 33 points against Portland on Oct. 24, 34 points and 14 assists at New Orleans on Oct. 30, 38 at Memphis on Nov. 1 with nine threes, and 32 against Miami. He is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 assists, and he has 30 assists over his last three games.
Sacramento took him seventh overall out of Arkansas in June.
Against Davion Mitchell
Acuff spent much of the night against Davion Mitchell, one of the league’s best on-ball defenders and a guard close to his own size. Acuff had 10 points in the first quarter, including two early threes that gave the Kings their biggest lead, 10-5.
Miami led by 16 early in the third quarter. Acuff’s 24-foot three with 7:07 to play cut it to 94-93, and De’Andre Hunter’s free throws tied it at 95 a minute later. Acuff scored 8 of his 11 fourth-quarter points in the last five minutes, on two driving layups and two trips to the line. But Giannis Antetokounmpo hit three jumpers in the last 4:08, all set up by Mitchell, and the Heat held on.
Antetokounmpo finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Klay Thompson made 7 threes and scored 23, and Mitchell had 17 points and 11 assists. Sacramento played without Domantas Sabonis, who missed his first game of the season with left knee soreness, and got Keegan Murray back after seven missed games with an ankle injury. Murray scored 10.
Acuff after the loss to the Heat. Video via James Ham on X.
“I like those tough matchups,” Acuff said. “He’s a great defender, great player. … Very smart, high IQ, so it’s always good to go against somebody like that.”
Against Antetokounmpo in a few one-on-one possessions, he said he was “just trying to really use my speed … and just use my moves. I think I’m a little creative with it.”
‘The game is slowing down for me’
Acuff said the jump in his assists came from reading the floor better.
“I think early on I wasn’t making as many reads. I was forcing a lot of shots,” he said. “I love to see others shine. So I think the game is slowing down for me each and every game. … I’m learning new defenses, seeing new coverages, and just learning on the fly.”
Asked about his first 10 games, he said: “I’m learning a new lesson every game, a few lessons every game. Trying not to get too high, trying not to get too low.”
It was also the first game since the Kings traded Nique Clifford to Oklahoma City. “It was crazy, man. I woke up to it,” Acuff said. “He’s one of the first people to hit me after the draft. … Great player, even more great teammate and great person. So it hurts to see somebody like that go.” The trade details are here.
The Kings are 1-9 and 0-5 at home. They host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 10 p.m. ET (5 a.m. Wednesday Cairo time).
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