Five teams have opened the season in the Western Conference with three wins from three games. Four of them were expected to be among the top contenders: the Thunder, Rockets, Lakers and Timberwolves. The fifth, however, is a team few had much faith in. The Memphis Grizzlies, led by an extraordinary Ty Jerome, are yet to taste defeat this season.
The Tennessee side secured their third win of the campaign with a 123-112 victory at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, thanks to 31 points from Jerome, who played a key role in the 11-0 run that put the game beyond the Kings in the final quarter. Although the double-digit winning margin might suggest otherwise, the game remained tied heading into the closing stages. Memphis, however, delivered the decisive blow, leaving Sacramento with no answer.
Until then, the Kings had responded to almost everything Memphis threw at them. Having trailed throughout the second half and by as many as 14 points, Doug Christie’s side fought back to level the score, largely thanks to Zach LaVine and Darius Acuff Jr. The pair once again proved to be an exciting but inconsistent combination, scoring 37 and 22 points respectively. When it mattered most, however, they struggled to make an impact.
Up There With Morant
Jerome, on the other hand, stepped up when it mattered, hitting a three-pointer and converting a three-point play to help put the game out of reach. In doing so, he continued an outstanding start to the season that has placed him in exclusive company in franchise history. He has now scored at least 100 points in his first three regular-season games, a feat previously achieved by only Ja Morant, who managed it twice.
TY JEROME IS OFF TO A HOT START 🔥 Wednesday: 45 PTS Friday: 28 PTS Tonight: 31 PTS He joins Ja Morant (2x) as the only other player in Grizzlies franchise history to score 100+ PTS through the first three games of the season! https://t.co/F1LkzDjM7Q
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2026
The former Cavaliers guard was far from alone, with five of his team-mates also reaching double figures in different ways. Cameron Boozer struggled with his shooting, going 6-for-21 from the field, but made up for it with 11 rebounds. Cedric Coward and Cam Spencer each hit three three-pointers, while Jaylen Wells impressed with his efficiency. Memphis once again showed they have far more depth and options than many gave them credit for before the season.
Although their winning percentage is likely to drop as the schedule becomes tougher, for now the Grizzlies can celebrate being much higher in the standings than anyone expected.