Sacramento @ Brooklyn preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 19, 2019 ) Brooklyn 123, Sacramento 121

The Brooklyn Nets are treading water without star point guard Kyrie Irving and will try to complete a winning homestand Friday when they host the surging Sacramento Kings. Irving (shoulder) missed his third straight game Wednesday against Charlotte, but the Nets improved to 2-1 without him in a 101-91 triumph.

Three players scored at least 20 points, led by center Jarrett Allen's 22, and Brooklyn held an opponent under 100 for the first time this season. "I think our offense was sparked by the defense tonight," forward Taurean Prince, who scored 20 points, told reporters. "I think we kept the lead when we needed to and it raised our level of intensity on the defensive end when we needed it to as well." The Kings begin a four-game road trip Friday having won six of their last eight games. They capped a 2-0 homestand with a 120-116 win over Phoenix on Tuesday behind Bogdan Bogdanovic's career-high 31 points.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE KINGS (6-7): Bogdanovic also had a career high with seven made 3-pointers and finished 11-for-14 from the floor, although he and his teammates were not happy about giving up 41 points in the fourth quarter. "We have to finish it better and keep that lead until the end," Bogdanovic told reporters. "They changed their lineup and everyone started rolling and we kind of let them do whatever. We kind of were, 'OK, we got it.' It's the NBA. You have to be ready to lock in and finish the game." Veteran guard Cory Joseph chipped in a career-high 14 assists as he continues to fill in for De'Aaron Fox (ankle).

ABOUT THE NETS (6-8): Allen shot 9-of-12 and hauled in a season-high 17 rebounds Wednesday for his third double-double in the last four games, and his coach raved about the big man's performance. "I just thought (Allen) was huge," coach Kenny Atkinson told the media. "They went small, they put Marvin (Williams) at the 5. We said we'll stick with JA, and I thought he did two great things. He guarded when we switched, he guarded their smalls, and then he punished them on the other end with his offensive rebounding." Spencer Dinwiddie has started each game that Irving has missed and is averaging 24 points and 6.7 assists in that span.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atkinson told reporters Wednesday that Irving is not ready to return but that he did not think the injury would be a long-term situation.

2. Kings PF Richaun Holmes recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds in the win over the Suns for his fourth double-double.

3. Brooklyn won the two meetings last season, scoring 123 points both times.

PREDICTION: Nets 109, Kings 107