Aldama scores 29 points to help Grizzlies send Kings to 8th straight loss, 137-96

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Santi Aldama scored 29 points, Jock Landale added 21 and the Memphis Grizzlies built a big first-half lead and sent the Sacramento Kings to their eighth straight loss, 137-96 on Thursday night.

Cedric Coward scored 19 points and Zach Edey finished with 16 points as Memphis snapped a five-game losing streak. Vince Williams had a career-best 15 assists, part of the Grizzlies setting a franchise record with 42 assists.

Zach LaVine led the Kings with 26 points, connecting on 10 of 17 shots. Maxine Raynaud finished with 12 points. Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray, making his season debut, scored 11 points each. Murray had been out of action since a left thumb injury in the preseason.

The Kings have lost all eight in the skid by double digits. Four of the losses have come by at least 27 points. The 41-point setback Thursday was their largest of of the season.

Before the game, the Kings announced that an MRI revealed a partial meniscus tear in the left knee of starting center Domantas Sabonis. The team said he will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. He suffered the injury in Sunday's loss at San Antonio.

With Sabonis out of the middle, Memphis worked inside with Edey and Landale. The tandem missed only one of their 13 shots in the firsts half, Edey scoring 16 points, Landale adding 13. Memphis shot 54% in the first two quarters, and the Grizzlies scored their most points in a half this season for a 75-47 lead at intermission.

The Grizzlies stretched the lead to 37 — 113-76 — entering the fourth.

Kings: Close out five-game trip at Denver on Saturday night.

Grizzlies: At Dallas on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. (5) dunks against Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guards Scotty Pippen Jr., left, and Ja Morant, right, react from the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. (5) handles the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) runs into Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) dunks over Sacramento Kings forward Drew Eubanks (19) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) and Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) battle for control of the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7) handles the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Trump said Tuesday he’s canceled talks with Iranian officials amid a protest crackdown, telling Iranian citizens “help is on its way.”

Trump did not offer any details about what the help would entail, but it comes after the Republican president earlier this week said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic that has killed more than 2,000, according to human right monitors.

But Trump with his latest message on social media appeared to make an abrupt shift about his willingness to engage with the Iranian government.

"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote in a morning post on Truth Social. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

The U.S. president has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against antigovernment protesters. Trump on Sunday told reporters he believed Iran is “starting to cross” that line and has left him and his national security team weighing “very strong options” even as he said the Iranians had made outreach efforts to the U.S.

But on Monday, the president’s team offered guarded hope that diplomatic solution could be found.

“What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday. “However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.”

Also on Monday, Trump said he would slap 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Tehran “effective immediately,” but the White House has not provided details on that move. China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil and Russia are among economies that do business with Tehran.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo)

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo)

President Donald Trump waves after arriving on Air Force One from Florida, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)