What happened: Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. has mounted a historic start to his NBA career after being selected seventh overall in the draft. The rookie is also contributing 3.8 rebounds per game across his initial 10 appearances of the 2026-27 season. His early workload continued Sunday during Sacramento's 114-108 loss to the Miami Heat.
Why it matters: Sacramento ranks 14th in the Western Conference on an active three-game losing streak following the 1-9 start. Acuff has quickly taken over primary backcourt responsibilities as the Kings seek to stabilize their rotation. The franchise enters the second week of November searching for traction amid an early-season slide.
By the numbers: Acuff in 2026-27 through 10 games: 25.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 3.8 RPG. Kings team record: 1-9 (streak L3, seed 14).
What to watch: Sacramento continues its regular-season slate looking to snap a three-game skid. Acuff will look to maintain his scoring pace as the Kings attempt to close ground in the conference standings.