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Kings-Nets Preview

Mar 23, 2010 - 5:17 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Sacramento (24-47) at New Jersey (7-63), 7:30 p.m. EDT

If the New Jersey Nets don't want to finish with the worst record in NBA history, the next two home games may offer some hope.

Needing three victories in their final 12 games to avoid infamy, the Nets look to end an eight-game slide Wednesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings, who will again be without top rookie scorer Tyreke Evans.

Time is running out for New Jersey (7-63) to surpass the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73 for the worst record in league history. It doesn't appear to be getting any easier as the Nets' last four losses have been by double digits after the first four during the current skid were by nine or fewer points.

New Jersey is on a franchise-record 14-game losing streak at home, where it is 3-31. The final two contests of this four-game homestand, however, could represent chances to break that skid.

Sacramento (24-47) starts a five-game trip at the Izod Center before Detroit visits on Friday. Both opponents have 7-28 road records.

The Nets get the added advantage of facing the Kings without their best player in Evans, who leads all rookies in scoring (20.3 ppg). Evans suffered a mild concussion, a bruised jaw, lacerated gums and chipped teeth after taking an inadvertent elbow going for a loose ball in a 114-108 double-overtime loss to Milwaukee on March 19.

Evans will miss his third straight game but could return Friday in Boston.

"I saw where they're (Kings doctors) anticipating his return probably in Boston, that would be great," coach Paul Westphal said. "But we don't want to rush him at all. We want him when he's completely healed."

The Kings split the two games without Evans, losing 102-85 to Memphis on Monday. Carl Landry led Sacramento with 23 points.

The Nets held halftime leads in the first two games of this homestand before being undone by dismal third quarters. Toronto outscored New Jersey 32-19 in the third in a 100-90 win on Saturday before Miami posted a 27-14 advantage in the period in a 99-89 victory Monday.

The loss to the Heat echoed a familiar storyline for the Nets.

"It was a tale of all tales," guard Devin Harris said. "We had a good solid first half. The third quarter, obviously, we didn't shoot the ball well and didn't guard, and there was a six-minute stretch that we've been known to have from time to time and it dug us a hole we could not get out of."

Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 26 points and Harris added 16.

The Nets played without interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, whose mother is gravely ill in California. Assistant John Loyer replaced him, and could do so again for this contest if Vandeweghe does not return.

Sacramento is trying to sweep the season series after winning 109-96 at home Nov. 27 behind 21 points apiece from Evans and Beno Udrih.