The Sacramento Kings aim to stretch their home winning streak to five straight games on Monday evening as they kick off their homestand against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Kings play the first of five in a row at home tonight and had to settle for a split of their recent four-game swing due to Saturday's 113-93 setback to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets started the game hot, shooting 71.4 percent in the first quarter and led by as many as eight in the frame.
DeMarcus Cousins paced the Kings with 28 points and 11 rebounds and Jason Thompson added with 15 points for Sacramento.
"I felt like the energy wasn't there in the beginning," Cousins said. "It hurt us once again."
Cousins has done little to hurt his team since his team-imposed suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. The center has recorded six straight double- doubles, averaging 20.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in that span.
Cousins could be getting some help on this residency as guard Tyreke Evans has rejoined the team after getting a second opinion on his sore left knee last week. He has missed 13 of the past 17 games and is day-to-day, as is guard Marcus Thornton, who has missed the past four games due to a sprained left ankle.
The Kings are looking to win five straight at home for the first time since Jan. 14-Feb. 2, 2008. They'll host a Grizzlies team that kicked off a three- game trip with Sunday's 92-81 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Zach Randolph had 21 points and eight rebounds, while Rudy Gay finished with 20 points. Marc Gasol filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Grizzlies, who had lost four of their previous six.
"It was a good game for us, from both ends," Randolph remarked. "We played defense and we got off to a good start and we came out in the second half and we didn't drop down or let them play up."
The Grizzlies had a four-game winning streak over the Kings stopped in the most recent encounter, a 119-110 decision at Sacramento on March 20 of last year.
Thornton had 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the win, while Cousins finished with 23 points.
Gay had 23 points for Memphis, which has lost 23 of its last 26 in Sacramento.
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