Darius Acuff Jr. is putting up historic numbers for a rookie, but the strain of losing is already beginning to wear on him, according to an ESPN story. The Kings are off to a 1-10 start after to falling to Orlando on Tuesday despite Acuff’s 29 points and six assists, and he was asked after the game how much he’s affected by the frequent losses.

“A lot,” he replied. “I’m not a loser, so it’s not fun. But like I said, it’s an 82-game season, so hopefully something will stick.”

The No. 7 pick out of Arkansas has been one of few bright spots for a franchise that seems headed toward another miserable season. He’s currently ninth in the NBA’s scoring race, averaging 26.2 points per game along with 7.3 assists, and his 288 points through 11 games are the most by any rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984. But it hasn’t been enough to save the Kings, who are in a three-way tie for the league’s worst record.

“I don’t know what to do,” Acuff said. “I feel like we’re trying — everybody as a whole. We’re just not coming out with the win. 1-10 just don’t sound right.”

There’s more from Sacramento:

• Coach Doug Christie’s decision to emphasize his veterans in an attempt to save his job played a role in the trade of Nique Clifford to Oklahoma City, team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic. Christie, who’s in the final guaranteed season of his contract, had been using Zach LaVine and Malik Monk ahead of Clifford, who only saw 50 total minutes in eight games before the deal. Amick states that management was concerned that Clifford’s trade value might decline even more if he remained out of the rotation heading into the February 11 deadline, so the decision was made to move him now. Amick speculates that Christie’s failure to develop Clifford, who was a first-round pick last year, will be among the factors considered as the team assesses his future.
• ESPN’s Zach Kram gives the Kings a C- grade for the Clifford deal, noting that he was inexplicably buried on the bench after posting the best on-off numbers among the team’s rotation players last season. The Thunder receive a B for using two of their 21 second-round picks to fill a need created by early-season injury issues. Christie offered his perspective on the deal, calling Clifford the “ultimate professional” (Twitter video link from James Ham of Kings Beat).
• Keegan Murray came off the bench for the second straight game on Tuesday, but Christie said it’s just a temporary arrangement as he works his way back from left ankle capsulitis (video link from Sactown Sports).