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Pelicans hope to halt slide against Kings

Mar 3, 2014 - 2:50 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New Orleans Pelicans will try to halt a seven-game losing streak Monday night when they visit Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings.

The Pelicans haven't won since a road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 12. They've dropped five in a row as the visitor and will end a five-game road trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

New Orleans' most recent setback was a decisive drubbing. The L.A. Clippers dominated the Pelicans to the tune of a 108-76 decision Saturday night at Staples Center.

Tyreke Evans tallied 22 points and nine rebounds, while Alex Ajinca added 11 points and 10 boards for New Orleans. Austin Rivers chipped in 19 points, followed by 10 out of Greg Stiemsma.

Anthony Davis had a career-high 32 points last time out against the Suns, but only managed eight points on Saturday.

"We didn't come ready to play, that's my responsibility and that's the responsibility of our leaders. They pushed us around," Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said.

The Kings are in the midst of a slide of their own, a three-game losing streak that came on the heels of a two-game winning streak.

The slide reached three games on Saturday night when the Kings fell at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-97.

The Wolves welcomed back Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic from injuries and both had big nights. The two and All-Star Kevin Love combined for 68 points against the Kings.

Rudy Gay paced Sacramento with 24 points and DeMarcus Cousins had a monster outing, scoring 21 points to go along with 17 rebounds in the setback. Isaiah Thomas tallied 22 points with eight assists.

The Kings committed 19 turnovers, which Minnesota turned into 27 points.

"For whatever reason, we continued to beat ourselves," said Kings coach Michael Malone. "You know 19 turnovers, 27 points. Good teams don't beat themselves. It's very hard, in the same game, to beat your opponent and yourself and we did that tonight."

Sacramento hits the road after Monday's tilt for a seven-game sojourn, visiting Milwaukee, Toronto, Brooklyn, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago and Minnesota.

The two teams have split a pair of meetings this season with the visitor prevailing each time. The Pelicans have won four of six against Sacramento, but the Kings are 4-1 in their last five as the host in this series.