Kings at Grizzlies
Sacramento coach Dave Joerger is well aware how much the Memphis Grizzlies dominate the Kings when the teams square off in Memphis. The former Grizzlies' coach is now the head man of the Kings and he will try to break Sacramento's 12-game skid in Memphis when he faces his former squad on Friday.
Joerger was fired last May after going 147-99 in three season as Grizzlies' coach and is trying to revive the floundering Kings. He curiously rested star center DeMarcus Cousins on Wednesday -- Sacramento lost 132-98 to Houston -- for the first time all season, perhaps wanting to make sure a fresh Cousins can help provide a triumphant return to Memphis for Joerger. The Grizzlies haven't missed a beat under first-year coach David Fizdale and Wednesday's 93-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers was the team's seventh win in the past eight games. Memphis is thriving without standout point guard Mike Conley (back) and is a solid 11-4 at home.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN California (Sacramento), FSN Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE KINGS (9-16): Sacramento dropped six of its past eight games and barely put up a challenge against the Rockets with Cousins, small forward Rudy Gay (hip flexor) and shooting guard Ben McLemore (quadriceps) out of the lineup. Houston shot a blistering 58.8 percent from the field and knocked won 22 3-pointers, and the 34-point margin represented the Kings' largest defeat of the season. "There are times when teams are going to have to rest people and that gives other guys an opportunity to step up," small forward Matt Barnes told reporters. "We have to weather the storm until Ben and Rudy get back and I think DeMarcus is playing in the next game. We have to pick up the pieces and continue to play hard and improve."
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-9): Standout center Marc Gasol recorded three of his five double-doubles in December, including a 17-point, 11-rebound effort on Wednesday one night after being rested. Gasol suffered a season-ending foot injury last season and Tuesday's contest marked the second game he missed this season, and Fizdale indicated there will be more rest nights as the season deepens. Memphis was 12-of-23 from 3-point range against Cleveland for its ninth double-digit outing of the season in that category.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Grizzlies went 3-0 against the Kings last season and won the past four meetings.
2. Memphis backup SG Troy Daniels scored 20 points on Wednesday after averaging five on 5-of-27 shooting over the previous three games.
3. Sacramento SG Arron Afflalo is just 6-for-23 shooting over his last six appearances.