Kings Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Joins Shaq and Iverson with Rare 30-Point Feat in First 5 Games

Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. has entered rare NBA history by scoring 30 or more points twice within his first five career games, matching milestones previously reached only by Allen Iverson and Shaquille O’Neal over the past 40 seasons.

Pelicans Overwhelm Kings Despite Acuff’s 34-Point Night

The Sacramento Kings dropped their fifth game to start the season on October 29, falling 132-120 to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans secured its first victory of the campaign, moving to a 1-4 record while handing Sacramento its fifth straight loss. The Pelicans dominated the interior and capitalized on Kings mistakes, scoring 80 points in the paint and converting 25 Sacramento turnovers into 40 points.

Despite the defensive struggles, rookie Darius Acuff Jr. delivered a standout performance for the Kings, posting a game-high 34 points along with 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Precious Achiuwa and De’Andre Hunter each contributed 24 points, Zach LaVine added 21 points and 5 assists, and Domantas Sabonis recorded 9 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Historical Scoring Company for the Rookie

Acuff’s latest scoring outburst followed his 33-point, 4-assist performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 24 during his second career appearance. By reaching the 30-point threshold twice in his first five games, the rookie joined Allen Iverson and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in the last 40 NBA seasons to accomplish the feat at the start of their careers.

Balanced Pelicans Attack Secures First Win

New Orleans spread the offensive load effectively, with seven players reaching double figures in scoring. Jeremiah Fears led the charge with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. Zion Williamson also scored 22 points to go with 6 rebounds and 5 steals, Trey Murphy III added 19 points and 5 rebounds, and Herbert Jones chipped in 16 points and 4 rebounds.