Memphis @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2019 ) Sacramento 115, Memphis 119

The Sacramento Kings aim to halt a season-worst eight-game losing streak when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. Sacramento was blown out by the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 105-87 on Tuesday after losing its previous three games by a combined eight points.

The Kings recorded their second-lowest point total of the season in the latest loss and scored just 17 points in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth. "They pushed us around out there and they had their way," Sacramento coach Luke Walton said afterward. "We have to come together and we've got to be mentally stronger, physically stronger and fight our way out of it. That's the only way to get out of this type of slump that we're in, and we've done it before." Memphis off got to a porous 5-13 start but showed progress by going 8-8 in December. "Everybody is just playing together," power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. told reporters. "I don't think it's a matter of anything clicking more. Shots are falling a lot, and we're playing better defensively. That's a big thing. I think everybody is locked in defensively. ... Everybody is being a good teammate."

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, NBCS California

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (13-21): Small forward Dillon Brooks scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Sunday's 117-104 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets and the Grizzlies are 8-0 when he tallies 20 or more this season. The third-year pro averages 14.2 points per game and he said there is no correlation between his production and the team's unbeaten mark when he reaches the 20-point mark. "People say it a lot," Brooks said told reporters after the triumph. "But I'm just out there trying to win regardless of if I shoot it well or if I'm not shooting it well."

ABOUT THE KINGS (12-22): Power forward Richaun Holmes had 22 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double in the past six games. Holmes has been on a torrid shooting roll and has made 53-of-77 field-goal attempts (68.8 percent) over the past seven games, while averaging 17.7 points during the stretch. Shooting guard Buddy Hield scored 20 points against the Clippers for his third straight output of 20 or more after failing to reach the mark in six consecutive contests, including efforts of eight and seven points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Jackson scored 18 points as the Grizzlies notched a 119-115 home win over the Kings on Dec. 21.

2. Sacramento PG De'Aaron Fox was just 3-of-10 shooting for nine points against Los Angeles.

3. Memphis SF Jae Crowder (ankle) could miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Kings 110, Grizzlies 103