The Kings will resume a torturous stretch of three games in handed Milwaukee Bucks.
The Kings have been routed during the first two games of the span, losing by 17 points in Memphis on Tuesday and following that up with a 27-point setback in Denver on Wednesday. Al Harrington was one of five Nuggets players in double- figures in that one with 15 points as Denver cruised, 110-83.
DeMarcus Cousins, coming off the bench for a second straight night after reportedly requesting a trade earlier in the week, scored a game-high 26 points, while Marcus Thornton ended with 23 points for the Kings, who dropped to 2-5 on the young season.
"There's no doubt that was a kick in our teeth, you can't hide from it" Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. "I still believe we have the makings of a good basketball team and I believe we will bounce back."
The Bucks, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 on a five-game road trip on Tuesday in Salt Lake City when Al Jefferson recorded 26 points and 10 rebounds, lifting the Utah Jazz to an 85-73 victory over Milwaukee.
Drew Gooden ended with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who fell to 2-3 on the season. Stephen Jackson tallied 16 points.
"It's tough. We can't win scoring 70-80 points," said Milwaukee head coach Drew Gooden. "We've got to be in the high 90s to beat these teams. That comes with executing the offense and we shot 30 percent from the field tonight. You can't win ball games that way."
Milwaukee played without Mike Dunleavy (illness/groin), Beno Udrih (shoulder) and star center Andrew Bogut (personal matters) and expects to be without all three again tonight.
Bogut's Australian manager, Bruce Kaider, refused to pinpoint the nature of the personal issue Bogut is going through but teammate Brandon Jennings told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the big man had returned "home," which could mean Australia or Milwaukee.
"It's personal so we are certainly not going to make it public, but Andrew needed to deal with it and will be mostly likely back on court in a couple of days," Kaider told an Australian newspaper. "The Bucks were really kind in giving him time to get this resolved. It was one of those issues that if it's not dealt with could become bigger than needed."
The Bucks, who have won three straight in Sacramento, will finish their trek with visits to the LA Clippers and Phoenix.
