The Sacramento Kings have been struggling on their current game road trip and have a good shot at ending the slide tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Kings are 0-3 on the trek, have lost four in a row overall and are winless in the past four road games. In Friday's 114-108 setback against the Detroit Pistons, DeMarcus Cousins recorded another double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds and Marcus Thornton added 24 points in defeat.
Tyreke Evans chipped in 16 and nine assists for the Kings, who fell to 3-15 as the guest this season and are last in the Pacific Division.
"This is a tough loss for me because we did everything we needed to do, played the game the way we need to play it, fast break, got out, ran, and defended," said Kings head coach Keith Smart. "And then to come back and give this game away like this, but I tip my hat to coach [Lawrence] Frank and his guys."
Jason Thompson and Isaiah Thomas, getting his first NBA start, each tallied 13 points against the Pistons. Cousins has recorded 19 double-doubles this season and has averages of 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in his last three games. As a rookie last season, Cousins recorded 26 double-doubles. Evans is averaging 20.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 7.3 apg in the last three games.
In his past nine contests, Thornton is posting 19.8 ppg.
Sacramento will also visit the Heat and Wizards on the trip.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 2-3 so far on a nine-game homestand and dropped a 111-87 decision to LeBron James and the Heat on Friday. James scorched his former team for 28 points, while Cleveland rookie Kyrie Irving scored 17.
Ramon Sessions posted 15 points and Antawn Jamison netted 13 for the Cavs, who fell to 6-8 at home. Sessions is averaging 13.1 points, 8.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds in his last nine contests. Over his last eight games, Jamison is averaging 20.9 ppg.
Cleveland is in the midst of the longest homestand in franchise history, and the last team to have a residency of nine or more games was the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1999-00 season. The Cavs will also host the Pistons, Hornets and Celtics on the homestand.
The Cavaliers were without guards Daniel Gibson (sprained left ankle) and Anthony Parker (back spasms) against Miami. Also, center Anderson Varejao (broken wrist) is out for at least six weeks. Gibson is doubtful for tonight and center Semih Erden is probable with a balky wrist.
Cleveland and Sacramento split a home-and-home series a year ago, with each team holding serve as the visitor. The Cavs have won nine of 10 meetings with the Kings and lead this series, 32-18, in the Sacramento era.
The all-time series between the Cavs and Kings is tied at 52-52.
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