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Grizzlies try to get act together vs. Kings

Mar 30, 2015 - 1:57 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies better figure out what's wrong soon, and they'll get a chance Monday night when they host the Sacramento Kings at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies have lost three straight and fell out of the Southwest Division lead. They now trail the Houston Rockets by a half-game for both first in the division and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Memphis' skid has been against stout competition in the form of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and the defending NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

However, while there's no shame in losing to those teams, the margin of defeat has been by a shade under 20 points. The Grizzlies have allowed 100-plus in all three and failed to score 90 points.

"These last three games we got the best of each team," Memphis forward Jeff Green said. "It's not going to be easy, the route we're trying to get to. We've just got to stay positive and stay together."

Against the Spurs on Sunday, which was the only loss during this funk on the road, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard scored 15 points in a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to give his side a 103-89 win.

Memphis received 20 points and 13 rebounds from Zach Randolph and a 19-point effort out of Green. Mike Conley struggled, however, with the point guard managing just six points on 2-of-11 shooting. Marc Gasol finished with 16 points but netted just six through the first three quarters.

The Grizzlies will host the Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans during this homestand.

The Kings had a four-game winning streak halted Friday night with a 102-88 road loss to the Pelicans.

DeMarcus Cousins outdueled fellow All-Star Anthony Davis, but he couldn't propel the Kings to victory.

Cousins put up a monster line with 39 points and 20 rebounds and Rudy Gay netted 18 points, but the rest of the Kings lineup contributed just 31 combined points on 12-of-33 shooting.

"I thought their second unit really came in, in both the first and second halves, and just were dominant," Kings coach George Karl said. "We just never got the flow.

Cousins had 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Davis went 3-for-14 in the first half, but the Pelicans still owned a 46-42 advantage at the break.

Gay scored seven straight Kings points after Ben McLemore put the visitors in front early in the third with a 3-pointer, but Quincy Pondexter drilled consecutive 3s at the other end to restore the Pelicans' lead.

Tyreke Evans scored twice during an 8-0 run later in the period that made it 74-63. The lead grew to 18 in the fourth as the Pelicans coasted to the finish line.

The Kings snapped a nine-game series losing streak to the Grizzlies on Feb. 25 with a win in Sacramento. Memphis has won nine straight over the Kings on Beale Street.