Knicks at Kings
The Sacramento Kings are feeling better about themselves after ending a five-game road trip with a 120-89 win at Dallas and will try to keep the momentum going when they host the New York Knicks on Friday. The Knicks knocked off the Kings at home on Sunday 106-98 but took a big step back on Wednesday.
The Kings dropped three in a row, capped by the loss at New York, before winning at Dallas in a game that featured better ball movement than the team had shown previously on the road trip. "It makes it so much easier," star center DeMarcus Cousins told reporters. "It’s hard for other teams to guard us when we’re moving that way and guys are cutting and creating space and passing lanes. It’s tough for teams to guard us." The Knicks looked like they were turning their own corner with four straight wins against sub-.500 team before getting a big dose of reality in a 126-94 home loss to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. "It’s definitely embarrassing to get blown out on national TV," New York guard Brandon Jennings told reporters. "I don’t care what the situation is, how many games we won in a row. Nobody wants to be embarrassed on national TV."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), CSN California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (12-10): New York star Carmelo Anthony found his name in the news even before the loss when Knicks president Phil Jackson suggested that his star holds the ball too long on offense. Anthony, who struggled to eight points on 4-of-9 shooting in 29 minutes on Wednesday, was not interested in talking about Jackson and was ready to move on. "It was just a little bump in the road and a game we didn’t play our best," Anthony told reporters. "We want to put this one behind us but we also want to learn from this and get better and move forward."
ABOUT THE KINGS (8-13): Cousins went 9-of-30 from the field and attempted 16 free throws in Sunday's loss at New York but was much more willing to move the ball on Wednesday. The Kentucky product handed out seven assists while going 10-of-16 from the floor and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line in the win. "It’s something coaches have brought to me," Cousins said. "They’ve asked me to try to get guys more involved early on and not be as aggressive. It worked so it was a good thing. I think we’re a better team when we play that way."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks PG Derrick Rose (back) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.
2. Kings SG Arron Afflalo, who averages 25.8 minutes, was held out of the game on Wednesday via coach's decision.
3. Sacramento took four straight in the series prior to Sunday's setback.