Kings at Jazz
THE STORY: The Sacramento Kings will try to avoid a fourth straight loss when they take on the host Utah Jazz on Saturday. It looks like it’s going to be another long year for the Kings. They own the second-worst record in the Western Conference and have been getting dominated as of late. The only good news for Sacramento has been the recent play of DeMarcus Cousins. He has recorded a double-double in five straight games and 10 of his last 12 contests. The Jazz have also been struggling and losing ground in the Western Conference standings. They’re coming off a 116-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Mavericks shot 54.9 percent from the field, the highest mark by any Utah opponent this season. Paul Millsap continues to have an impressive campaign for the Jazz. He’s averaging 22.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and shooting 57.4 percent over his last nine games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Comcast (California), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE KINGS (6-13): Sacramento was blown out by 29 points Wednesday during a home loss to Denver. Rookie guard Jimmer Fredette scored a team-high 19 points. “He’s a shooter, You’ve got to guard him three feet behind the three-point line. He can shoot that thing,” said Dallas forward Shawn Marion when asked about Fredette earlier this season. The No. 10 overall pick in last year’s NBA draft has averaged 17.3 points while shooting 61.1 percent from three-point range in the last three games.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (10-7): The Jazz are 8-3 at home this season. That’s good news because they play four of their next five games at EnergySolutions Arena. Al Jefferson returned to the lineup on Friday to score 19 points versus Dallas after missing the team’s previous game due to ankle tendinitis. His 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season are a team best. Utah will be looking to avoid dropping its third straight game overall and will be playing the second game of a back-to-back.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Jazz have won eight of the last 11 meetings with the Kings.
2. The Kings have been outscored 351-277 in their last three games by Memphis, Portland and Denver.
3. Kings forward Chuck Hayes has missed the last 11 games with a dislocated left shoulder, but could return Saturday.