Jazz 122 - 101 Kings
Final
  for this game

Gay, Kings battle Jazz in Sacramento

Dec 11, 2013 - 3:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The new-look Sacramento Kings will unveil their newest addition, Rudy Gay, Wednesday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to Sleep Train Arena.

Gay was acquired alongside Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray on Monday in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. All three new Kings are expected to play on Wednesday.

"I have a couple guys with me that came with me. It's a new beginning," Gay told reporters before Sacramento's win over the Dallas Mavericks. "I've been saying it all day. They have a lot of young pieces and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Gay averaged 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 games this season for the Raptors. He was shooting a career-low 38.8 percent

With four players on the way out, the Kings were short-handed against the Mavs, but still prevailed, 112-97. Sacramento had only 10 available players, but snapped a four-game home losing streak.

"We didn't care if we had 10 or 15 players, we had enough talent to win this game," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "Our next challenge is to figure out the new guys and how they're going to play and at what position."

Gay and another newcomer, Derrick Williams, are expected to start at the forward spots, alongside DeMarcus Cousins, rookie Ben McLemore and Isaiah Thomas, who started Monday night in place of Vasquez.

Against the Mavs, Cousins scored 32 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. Williams had a career-best 31 points and Thomas added 24 and 12 assists. Jason Thompson, who is expected to come off the bench now, chipped in 10.

The Jazz have dropped four straight, including Saturday night to the Kings, but only one was on the road. On Monday, Utah lost at home to the Portland Trail Blazers, 105-94 to lose their third in a row in Salt Lake City.

Utah was in it against Portland, trailing by only five with 90 seconds to go. Nicolas Batum and Damian Lillard nailed consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to 11 and put the game out of reach.

"You play good 'D' for like 22, 23 seconds, and they hit the crazy shots. It's tough, but that's basketball. We just need to learn how to close the games," said Jazz center Enes Kanter.

Alec Burks led the way for the Jazz with 20 points off the bench. Kanter added 19 followed by 17 from Gordon Hayward. Trey Burke finished with 15 and Richard Jefferson chipped in 13 points.

Derrick Favors missed the contest with lower back soreness.

The Kings have taken four of the last six meetings between the teams and four of the last five in Sacramento.






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