The Sacramento Kings return home after a tremendous come from behind win over the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center. They'll face a Memphis Grizzlies team that was handed a 12-point loss in Golden State on Sunday.
Willie Cauley-Stein hit the glass in the win over the Clippers, tying his career-high in rebounds with 14. His final board came on a putback lay-in with 1.8 seconds remaining, which proved to be the game winner. Since the All-Star break, the second-year big is posting 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.9 minutes per game.
Memphis is in a heated playoff race. They currently sit seventh in the Western Conference standings, but they trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by just a game and a half with nine games remaining.
OPENING LINE
Grizzlies by 6.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Sports
Buddy Hield vs. Tony Allen -- Hield put on a show with his late game heroics on Sunday afternoon. The rookie knocked down a huge 3-pointer, stole the inbounds pass and hit a second triple to help Sacramento erase an 18-point deficit in the final five minutes of the Kings' win over the Clippers. He'll face a good old fashion brawler in the Grizzlies Tony Allen on Monday night. Despite his advancing age, the 35-year-old Allen brings a defensive intensity that Hield must adjust to.
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 28-45, third place in Pacific
Grizzlies: 40-33, third place in Southwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: SG Arron Afflalo (personal) out, SF Tyreke Evans (rest) out, SF Rudy Gay (left Achilles tendon) out for the season, SF Malachi Richardson (hamstring) out for the season.
Grizzlies: C Marc Gasol (foot) out, F Chandler Parsons (knee) out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Grizzlies lead the season series 2-1, including victories in the last two meetings between these teams. The Kings hold a 44-38 advantage over the Grizzlies all-time.
QUOTE
"I thought the whole game, the guys didn't lose effort and they deserve it. Look at our last couple of weeks, even though the results haven't been what we want it to be, so many guys that kept fighting, they were able to deserve this win." -Darren Collison on the Kings' big win over the Clippers
