Grizzlies-Kings Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Jan 07 2013 12:42AM

The Memphis Grizzlies are in search of consistency and having a healthy Zach Randolph producing should help.

The Sacramento Kings are looking to get a lift from the expected return of one of their own key contributors.

Randolph and the Grizzlies will try to win back-to-back games for the first time in over two weeks on Monday night when they visit the Kings, who are expected to have Tyreke Evans back.

Memphis (21-10) has lost four of seven following a four-game winning streak, and has been plagued by inconsistent shooting recently.

The Grizzlies are hitting 46.7 percent from the field in their last three victories compared to 38.7 during the past three defeats. That trend continued Sunday, when they connected on a season-high 53.6 percent from the floor in a 92-81 victory at Phoenix to open this three-game road trip. That effort came two days after Memphis shot 39.5 percent in an 86-84 loss to Portland.

One of the changes, though, was the return of Randolph, who sat out against the Trail Blazers with flu-like symptoms. He was superb in his return Sunday, sinking 9 of 11 field goals to finish with 21 points.

"Zach got going in the post and so we had a few options to run with," coach Lionel Hollins said.

Randolph is averaging 16.8 points and is among the league leaders with 12.2 rebounds, but he wasn't nearly that effective in the last visit to Sacramento (13-21) on March 20. He was limited to 13 points and seven rebounds in the 119-110 loss after averaging 27.5 and 14.0, respectively, over the four previous games there.

Evans also scored 13 points in that matchup with the Grizzlies after totaling 51 in the prior two home meetings. The swingman is expected to get a chance to re-establish that success against Memphis as he returns from a sore left knee that has forced him to miss 11 straight and 16 of the past 20 games.

While Evans' potential return may give the Kings a lift, a rejuvenated and seemingly focused DeMarcus Cousins has been a welcome change. The third-year pro has been outstanding since serving his third suspension in less than three full seasons.

Cousins has averaged 20.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in six games since missing two because of a team suspension for a verbal confrontation with coach Keith Smart during a Dec. 21 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I think maybe, maybe, he's turned the corner in realizing that if you want to be a star in this league, all the stars allow the other teammates to play and they make them better," Smart said.

Cousins could have used some help from his teammates Saturday, when he scored 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a 113-93 loss at Brooklyn. That came a night after he had a season-high 31 points with a career high-tying 20 rebounds in a 105-96 win at Toronto.

He scored 23 points in the latest meeting with the Grizzlies.

Rudy Gay has matched that total for Memphis in each of the last three matchups, and he's coming of a 20-point performance on Sunday.

Ellington leads Grizzlies to 113-81 rout of Kings

Posted Jan 08 2013 1:51AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Wayne Ellington made his first two shots and had a feeling he couldn't miss.

He was nearly correct.

The streak-shooting Ellington made 10 of 11 shots, including six 3-pointers, and scored a season-high 26 points, to help the Memphis Grizzlies rout the Sacramento Kings 113-81 on Monday night.

"I hit those first two shots and it carried over from there," said Ellington, who made seven 3-pointers earlier this year against Miami. "After I made the third or fourth three I thought they were all going in."

Zach Randolph scored 17 points and had seven rebounds in an extremely balanced offense for Memphis, which had a season-high for points. Mike Conley had 15 points and eight assists and Marc Gasol had 13 points for the Grizzlies, who outscored the Kings 36-20 in the third quarter to blow the game open and win their third straight road game.

Memphis had a season-high 29 assists and have held their last six opponents under 89 points.

"This is an especially tough place to play well and the Kings have beaten some good teams at home," Conley said. "It's nice to get a relatively relaxing win like this one."

John Salmons led the Kings with 17 points, Jason Thompson had 12 and DeMarcus Cousins had 10 and eight rebounds.

Sacramento had a season-low 28 field goals made and the point total was their lowest at home this season. The Kings shot just under 37 percent and were held to 36 second-half points.

"Our defense has been great of late," Conley said. "We have a core group of guys who communicate well and pay attention to detail at the defensive end."

Tyreke Evans returned to the Kings after missing the previous 11 games with a sore left knee. He had five points in 12 minutes in a reserve role.

"I was just waiting for the game to come to me," Evans said. "But unfortunately the game got out of hand. Memphis played hard. Their big men were dunking a lot and they made shots. They are a good team overall."

Besides playing well offensively, the Grizzlies did a nice job of containing Cousins. In the previous four games, Cousins had averaged 24.5 points and 15.2 rebounds.

"I wanted to keep a body on him (Cousins); I've got a big body too and I wanted to meet him early," Randolph said. "We're a defensive team. When we get stops we can score with the best of them."

The Grizzlies ran their offense with precision in the third quarter when they pulled away from the Kings. They used a pair of 10-0 runs in the period to build an 87-65 lead heading into the fourth.

Elllington came off the bench late in the third quarter and scored the last 10 points for Memphis, which made 13 of 20 shots (65 percent) in the period.

Ellington, who played under three minutes in the third quarter, made consecutive 3-pointers and hit a jumper at the buzzer.

"They were just hitting shots, especially in the third quarter," Kings guard Isaiah Thomas said. "We couldn't get stops and they were running their offense great. They are both and offensive and a defensive team."

Randolph scored on a one-handed put-back, then made a long jumper with the shot clock running down to key a 10-0 run by Memphis in the third quarter. Conley's 3-pointer put the Grizzlies ahead 65-51 at the 7:15 mark.

Conley had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds in the opening half when the Grizzlies led 51-45. Gasol had nine points for Memphis, which connected on 13 of 14 free throws in the first half.

Salmons made three 3-pointers and scored 13 first-half points for the Kings. Thompson scored 10 points and Cousins had six.

Notes: Josh Selby was not with the team for personal reasons. . The Grizzlies complete the three-game road trip Wednesday at Golden State. This was the first game of a five-game home stand for the Kings, who are now 10-8 in Sacramento. Jimmer Fredette missed all seven shots and was scoreless in nearly 20 minutes.

Notebook: Grizzlies 113, Kings 81

James Ham, For NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:28 AM - Updated Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:28 AM

THE FACTS: After a solid 2-2 East Coast road trip, the Sacramento Kings got smoked on their home floor Monday, losing 113-81 to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Wayne Ellington caught fire, setting a new career-high with 26 points off the Grizzlies bench. Zach Randolph added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Conley finished with 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the win.

John Salmons led the Kings with 17 points. Rookie Thomas Robinson scored eight points and tied his career-high in rebounds with 12.

QUOTABLE: "He was on fire. There's nothing else to say, except he shot the lights out."

-- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Ellington's big game

THE STAT: The Grizzlies shot 11-for-20 from 3-point range in the win.

TURNING POINT: After a highly competitive first half, the Grizzlies outscored the Kings by 16 in the third quarter and took a 22-point lead into the fourth. They never let off the gas and embarrassed the Kings on their home floor.

QUOTABLE II: "It always feels good to contribute. To be able to come off the bench and contribute be able to contribute anywhere -- that's what being a good team is about."

-- Ellington on his career game

HOT: Ellington killed the Kings, going 10-for-11 from the field, 6-for-7 from long range and setting a new career-high in points with 26.

NOT: Jimmer Fredette continued his three-game slump, missing all seven of his shots and finishing with zero points in the loss. With Tyreke Evans returning from injury and Marcus Thornton on his way back, the second-year guard out of BYU chose the wrong time to go into a funk.

GOOD MOVE: The Grizzlies main objective was to slow Cousins down and they accomplished their goal with a variety of different looks. The Kings center came in on a hot streak and Memphis held him to just 10 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes of action.

BAD MOVE: Nothing worked for Keith Smart's team in the third quarter as the Grizzlies steamrolled his Kings team.

NOTABLE: The Grizzlies snapped the Kings' four-game home winning streak in dramatic fashion. Ellington set a new career-high with 26 points off the Grizzlies bench.

UP NEXT: For the Grizzlies, Wednesday @ Golden State, Friday vs. San Antonio, Saturday @ Dallas. For the Kings, Thursday vs. Dallas, Saturday vs. Miami, Tuesday vs. Cleveland.

• Grizzlies: Pondexter
• Kings: Thornton

• Grizzlies: --
• Kings: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #11 Derrick Collins, #77 Karl Lane
• Attendance: 11531
• Duration: 2:11