Sacramento @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2017 ) Washington 110, Sacramento 83

The Washington Wizards weren't happy with their defensive effort in the first game of the current homestand, but they've turned things around on that end over the last two contests. The Wizards will try to maintain that defensive effort and clinch a winning homestand when they host the Sacramento Kings in the finale of the four-game stay on Sunday.

Washington allowed at least 111 points in six of its first 10 games, including a 113-99 loss to the lowly Dallas Mavericks at home on Tuesday in which it surrendered 64 first-half points. The Wizards got back to locking their opponents down by holding the Los Angeles Lakers to 36 percent from the floor in a 111-95 triumph on Thursday and limited the Atlanta Hawks to 41 percent in Saturday's 113-94 win -- the first time this season they held back-to-back opponents under 100 points. A strong defensive team is the last thing the Kings need to see after getting blown out 118-91 in the opener of the three-game road trip at the New York Knicks on Saturday. Sacramento reached 100 points in just four of its first 12 games and is 29th in the NBA in scoring average at 94.8 points.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE KINGS (3-9): Sacramento did not have a starter score in double figures in Saturday's loss and is getting its most consistent production from the reserves. Second-year guard Buddy Hield began the season in the starting lineup and averaged 10.3 points on 35.4 percent shooting in seven games in that role but is putting up 15.2 points on 51.9 percent shooting in the last five games as a reserve. Rookie point guard De'Aaron Fox is coming off the bench as well and is averaging 11.9 points -- third on the team behind power forward Zach Randolph (12.8) and Hield (12.3) -- and a team-high 5.2 assists.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-5): Washington's best one-on-one defender might be 6-7 small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who comes off the bench and is usually tasked with locking down the opposition's best backcourt or wing player. Oubre was part of the defensive effort that held Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder to 2-of-16 from the floor on Saturday and will likely get the call against Fox and Hield on Monday. "This whole week has been a reevaluation of myself," Oubre, who collected 18 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's win, told the Washington Post. "I kind of lost sight that defense is my strong suit. My strongest suit. I'm just back to that."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings SG Vince Carter (kidney stones) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Monday.

2. Wizards PF Markieff Morris is 14-of-17 from the floor over the last two games.

3. Washington breezed to a 110-83 win at Sacramento on Oct. 29 -- its third straight victory in the series.

PREDICTION: Wizards 112, Kings 96