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Grizzlies welcome Kings to FedEx Forum

Feb 26, 2011 - 3:53 PM (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies continue their fight for a playoff spot when they entertain the Sacramento Kings this evening at FedEx Forum.

Memphis has won three in a row at home and is 19-8 in the Volunteer State this season. It is coming off Wednesday's 104-95 victory in Minnesota, as double- double machine Zach Randolph posted 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way. Mike Conley finished with 22 points for the Grizzlies, who have won 13 of 17 games overall.

Sam Young and Tony Allen each registered 16 points in the win.

"I feel like the pace [of the game] was ours," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told NBA.com. "We ran when we had opportunities to run and we slowed it down when we didn't have numbers. We executed the way we are capable of executing."

The Grizzlies are even with Utah for the eighth and final postseason spot in the West, and also sit 1 1/2 games behind both Portland and Denver. Memphis leads the NBA in points in the paint for a second consecutive season, pumping in 49.8 points inside after netting 51.4 points inside in 2009-10. It also leads the league in forced turnovers (16.7) and steals (9.24).

Memphis is 18-8 this season when Randolph has at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He has also pulled down multiple offensive rebounds in a franchise- record 27 games in a row.

Sacramento will close out a seven-game road trip tonight and fell to 2-4 on the trek following Friday's 110-98 loss in Charlotte. Stephen Jackson finished with a game-high 30 points to lead the Bobcats.

Samuel Dalembert had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Marcus Thornton added 14 points in his first game since being traded from the Hornets on Wednesday and rookie DeMarcus Cousins finished with 13 points and 10 boards for the Kings, who have lost nine of their last 11 games.

The Kings committed 18 turnovers for 25 Charlotte points.

"Same old story," said Beno Udrih, who ended with 11 points and 13 assists. "We started turning the ball over, it's hard to win then you turn the ball over 18 times. We have to take care of the ball much more."

Jason Thompson posted 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in defeat. The Kings are just 7-20 away from ARCO Arena this season and will continue to toil without reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans because of a foot issue. Sacramento is 2-8 without Evans in the lineup this season. Dalembert is averaging 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in his last eight contests.

Cousins has recorded a double-double in six of his past eight games.

The 2010-11 season series between the Kings and Grizzlies is tied at a game apiece, with both games played in California's capital. Sacramento has lost 10 of the 16 games at FedEx Forum.