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Spurs try to continue domination of Kings

Feb 1, 2014 - 3:24 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs haven't been in this kind of predicament for quite some time.

They've lost three straight for the first time since closing out the 2012-13 regular season 0-3 and will try to avoid a longer losing streak Saturday night when they welcome the Sacramento Kings to AT&T Center.

The Spurs haven't lost four games in a row since 2011 and the reason for their problems could easily be explained if you look at their injury report.

Starters Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green are all shelved for extended periods of time and the latest to join the sidelines was Manu Ginobili. The bench star will miss three to four weeks with a strained left hamstring.

Even those playing are dinged up. Tony Parker, who was named as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team, is questionable with a strained groin.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls came to Alamo City and left with a 96-86 victory.

With such luminaries in the starting lineup as Nando De Colon and Othyus Jeffers, who was recently signed to a 10-day contract, Parker had 20 points and six assists and Tim Duncan registered 17 points and 12 rebounds for the suddenly-sputtering Spurs.

"I think with all these guys out, our consistency just isn't there. On both ends, we can't sustain for the periods of time that we need to," said Duncan, who was passed over for a 15th All-Star Game.

The Kings have been a disaster of late, losing six straight, including three in a row on the road.

On Friday, the Kings fell in Dallas, 107-103.

Rudy Gay scored a game-high 35 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while also pulling down 12 rebounds and handing out six assists and Isaiah Thomas added 19 points and six assists for the Kings.

They were the only double-figure scorers for Sacramento, but all 10 Kings players who saw action scored at least a field goal.

Offense wasn't the problem as the Kings allowed 32 points in the fourth quarter. That turned a six-point Sacramento lead after three into a four-point loss.

"[They] got whatever they wanted (in the fourth). When you look at the game our first quarter defense was very good. The second quarter we don't defend anybody. Third quarter defense was excellent and allowed us to get out and run and Rudy kind of took the game over for a little bit, and then in the fourth quarter you allow that team to score 32 points," said Kings coach Michael Malone.

The Spurs have won seven straight against Sacramento and 19 of the last 20. The Kings lone victory against the Spurs since 2008 did come in San Antonio back on Jan. 20, 2012.