Game Preview: Kings At Lakers
While Byron Scott's lineup changes had no initial effect for the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings coach Michael Malone's move led to a rare win without DeMarcus Cousins.
Playing for the only time on the road over an 11-game stretch, the Kings look to win back-to-back contests for the first time in two weeks Tuesday night while trying to deal the lowly Lakers their fourth straight defeat.
Tired of his team's poor play, particularly on the defensive end, Scott inserted power forward Ed Davis and point guard Ronnie Price
into the starting five Sunday while moving Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin to the bench.
Those switches, however, failed to produce immediate results for Los Angeles (5-16), which shot 40.0 percent while allowing New Orleans to hit 51.8 of its attempts in a 104-87 loss to the Pelicans at Staples Center.
"If you look at our record, we have to make changes - at least I think I do," said Scott. "As a coach, I'm not going to stand pat and just watch it continue to be played this way. So to me, it was a no-brainer. The reason is obviously on the defensive end. The last five games I've been thinking about this."
Price and Lin finished with three points apiece, while Davis and Boozer each had 12. Boozer, a 13-year veteran and two-time All-Star, had started his previous 588 games.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting and is averaging a league-best 25.2 despite a career-worst 38.9 field-goal percentage. The 16-time All-Star's scoring is down to 19.3 per game over his first four this month.
Bryant has averaged 31.5 points in his last six home games against the Kings, though he's hasn't played in the past three matchups at Staples due to injury.
The Lakers, who are 2-9 at home, are averaging 92.7 points while giving up 109.3 during their skid. They're now on the verge of their fourth slide of four games or more.
Sacramento (11-10) is dealing with its own troubles with Cousins expected to be sidelined at least another week due to viral meningitis. The star big man averaged career bests of 23.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks through 15 games.
The Kings struggled while losing four of their first five without Cousins, allowing 106.4 points on 47.2 percent shooting after giving up 100.1 on 43.6 in their first 15.
Malone tried to shake things up Monday when he gave Reggie Evans his first start and moved Ryan Hollins to the bench. Evans then finished with 13 rebounds and Sacramento limited Utah to 40.5 percent shooting in a 101-92 home win.
Rudy Gay led the way with 29 points and Darren Collison added 16 to help the Kings win for only the second time in 18 games when Cousins doesn't play.
"We're a great team with him, but we're also a great team without him," said Gay, who is averaging a career-high 21.1 points. "We have to believe that to win games."
Gay had 31 points and Ray McCallum added a career-high 27 in a 107-102 home win in the most recent matchup April 2 that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. Gay has scored a combined 63 in his last two meetings with the Lakers.
Collison has averaged 19.3 points in his past three versus Los Angeles.
Lakers guard Nick Young will look to end his shooting funk after totaling 29 points while missing 19 of 27 shots in his last two games. He's averaged just 12.7 on 34.1 percent shooting in his last three versus Sacramento.
Los Angeles has won 11 of 12 home meetings.
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