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Kings-Grizzlies Preview

Jan 29, 2016 - 8:20 PM Coach George Karl missed the Sacramento Kings' last game due to a bout of gastroenteritis, and watching his club play defense from afar likely didn't make him feel any better.

Now the Kings could have a difficult time fixing what ails them against a Memphis Grizzlies team riding its best scoring streak in six years.

With Karl uncertain to return to the bench, Sacramento will try to avoid a fourth straight defeat and snap a 10-game losing streak in Memphis on Saturday night.

Associate head coach Chad Iske may have to fill in again after Karl missed Thursday's 114-105 road loss to New Orleans, which was missing Anthony Davis and two other starters.

''We were fighting from behind from the very beginning,'' Iske said after the Kings couldn't dig out of a 37-19 first-quarter hole. ''You can't spot people 18 points on their home court.''

Since allowing an average of 96.4 points during a five-game winning streak that moved them into eighth in the Western Conference, the Kings have given up 118.3 over three straight losses.

Sacramento (20-26) won't have it any easier on defense Saturday, trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since dropping a season-high six in a row Oct. 31-Nov. 9.

The Grizzlies were scoring a West-low 95.9 points per game before averaging 103.0 in winning six of their last seven. They've reached 100 points in regulation in each of those contests for their longest such streak since doing so in eight straight Dec. 18, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010.

''I think it's the way we've been able to move the ball,'' said Mike Conley, who had nine of the team's 28 assists in Thursday's 103-83 win over Milwaukee. ''Guys are getting high-percentage looks, and guys are playing very confident right now. They're not hesitant on their jump shots.''

Memphis has a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio in the last six games, well above its 1.58 season mark.

Marc Gasol has keyed the surge, averaging 21.5 points over the past six games. He insists the Grizzlies (27-20) are still built on the defensive end after they limited the Bucks to 36.7 percent from the field.

''It's about not giving up a hundred,'' the center said. ''It's not about what we get.''

Gasol has totaled only 16 points in his last two games versus Sacramento, but the Grizzlies won both and have taken 18 of the past 21 meetings. They've averaged 107.0 points while limiting the Kings to 93.7 during their home winning streak in the series which dates back to Feb. 20, 2009.

Memphis has won 11 of 12 at home, including five straight as Jeff Green has averaged 20.2 points. He's averaged 8.4 in his last five road games. Green has totaled 51 points through two games of a homestand which ends Saturday.

The Kings are wrapping up a three-game trip on which DeMarcus Cousins has shot 15 of 45. He missed a 103-89 home loss to Memphis on Nov. 3 due to an Achilles injury and hasn't played in four of the last six meetings. Cousins is averaging 32.6 points in his last 14 games, but his 15.5 career average versus the Grizzlies is his lowest against any opponent.

Rajon Rondo can set a franchise record by reaching double digits in assists for a 15th straight game, but he's only averaged 3.6 over his past five against the Grizzlies. It won't help his cause if former Memphis forward Rudy Gay is out for a second straight game due to a corneal abrasion.