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Grizzlies try to snap skid in Sacramento

Mar 27, 2009 - 2:15 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Memphis (17-53) at Sacramento (15-55), 10:00 p.m.

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Arco Arena used to be one of the most feared places for opposing teams to visit. It's continued to be that way for the Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis will try to snap a 20-game losing streak in Sacramento as the Grizzlies and Kings square off Friday night in a matchup of the Western Conference's two worst clubs.

With just 10 victories in 34 home games, Sacramento (15-55) has no chance at avoiding the franchise's third losing record at Arco Arena since 1993-94. Sunday's 112-100 loss to visiting Philadelphia was the Kings' third straight defeat at home and 12th in 15 games there.

Sacramento, which averages more points in the first quarter (25.7) than any other, scored just 17 and committed eight turnovers in the opening 12 minutes against Philadelphia and trailed by 26 at halftime.

"From the jump ball we did not show up," Kings interim coach Kenny Natt said. "We decided to come here (and play poorly) tonight, that's basically what we did."

Sacramento, though, looks for its second win at home against Memphis this season, and 21st in a row versus the organization since the Vancouver Grizzlies won the franchise's only game at Arco Arena, 112-108 in overtime on April 19, 1998.

In their home-opener this season, the Kings defeated Memphis 100-95 on Nov. 5 behind 33 points from Kevin Martin.

Martin, scoring a career-best 24.2 points per game, missed the Kings' 109-94 loss at Memphis on Nov. 18 due to a sprained left ankle, but scored 33 as Sacramento defeated the host Grizzlies 115-106 on Feb. 20.

O.J. Mayo hit five 3-pointers and scored a team-high 24 in that loss. The talented rookie guard, who leads all first-year players with 18.4 points per game, made six 3s and scored 28 in Memphis' first visit to Sacramento this season.

Mayo will look for another big game as the Grizzlies (17-53) look to snap a five-game slide. Memphis continues its four-game trip after losing for the 17th time in 19 games, 94-82 to Miami on Monday.

While the Kings have scored their most points in the first quarter, the Grizzlies are averaging just 23.0 in the opening 12 minutes. Memphis trailed Miami 30-16 heading into the second quarter and dropped to 1-24 when scoring 20 points or fewer in the first.

"We started off a little slow," Mayo said "We tried to fight back, but we never could get under 10. Any team that is playing a high level like this, we have to got to come out for the start with a lot of energy."

Rudy Gay, Memphis' leading scorer, looks to bounce back from one of his worst games of the season as he scored just eight points on 2-of-9 shooting against the Heat.

Gay, though, is averaging 21.7 points and hitting 41.0 percent (16-of-39) from 3-point range in his last seven games versus Sacramento.

Kings rookie forward Jason Thompson looks for his fourth straight double-double Friday. He came up a rebound shy of a double-double in each of his last two games against Memphis.