SACRAMENTO -- Coming off one of the worst performances in franchise history, the Kings return to Golden 1 Center to host the Portland Trail Blazers in the first game of a home-and-home on back-to-back nights. They'll try to get their offense flowing against a quality Portland team with a pair of star guards.
Sacramento's 46-point loss to the lowly Hawks set a new low point in the season. The Kings lacked effort and intensity against an Atlanta team that came into the game at just 2-11 on the season. They'll need a better effort against the Blazers or the outcome could get worse.
Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum anchor a quality Portland team, but big man Jusuf Nurkic is the straw that stirs the Blazers drink. He can pound you inside, find the open man and block shots at will. Willie Cauley-Stein and the Kings frontline will have their hands full with Portland's versatile and physical center.
BETTING LINE
Blazers by 7
KEY MATCHUP
Garrett Temple vs. C.J. McCollum -- Damian Lillard gets all the publicity, but McCollum is a star in his own right. Sacramento passed on the sharpshooter during the 2013 NBA Draft, choosing Ben McLemore instead. It was a huge mistake as McCollum developed into one of the premier shooters in the league. Barring a major change in the lineup, Temple gets the start at the two. He'll have his hands full with a player averaging 22.5 points per game on league-best 53.1 percent shooting from long range.
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WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 3-11, fifth place in Pacific
Trail Blazers: 8-6, second place in Northwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: F Vince Carter (kidney stones) out, PF Harry Giles (bilateral knee rehab) out until January.
Trail Blazers: F Al Farouq Aminu (ankle) out, C Meyers Leonard (ankle) questionable, G C.J. Wilcox (knee) out, PG Wade Baldwin (thumb) out.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
PRIDE -- After losing three straight on the road by a combined 91 points, the Sacramento Kings have to show some pride on their home court. They aren't as talented or experienced as the Blazers, but losing by 46 points is completely unacceptable by any standard.
CHANGING THE LINEUP -- The current starting five of Hill, Temple, Bogdanovic, Randolph and Cauley-Stein isn't working. This group has fallen behind in almost every game they've been on the floor together and at some point, Joerger has to make move. Who starts and who sits is always up for debate, but the time for running the same five out there and expecting something different is long gone.
TOO NICE -- During their current losing streak the Kings roster has almost been congenial to their opponents. Nurkic is a player that has no problem sending a high elbow to the nose of his opponent and that's the way the game should be played. It's time for the Mr. Nice Guy act to go away and for the Kings players to show they can hang when the game gets physical.
SERIES HISTORY
Portland won the season series 2-1 last year, which each team holding home court. The Blazers lead the all-time series 129-77 and they own the Kings during the Sacramento-era 88-46.
QUOTE
"It's not just going to happen over night. As long as we all keep working, which we've been doing. We've had some really good practices, coaching has been really good. It's going to take time, that's what it is right now." -Skal Labissiere on the team's current struggles
