Charlotte @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 25, 2017 ) Charlotte 99, Sacramento 85

The Charlotte Hornets have struggled on the road this season but recently notched their most impressive victory of the campaign. Charlotte plays the third contest of a four-game excursion when it visits the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

Charlotte owns a porous 3-13 road record but stunned the Golden State Warriors 111-100 on Friday to open the trip. Yet the momentum didn't carry over as the Hornets dropped a 106-98 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers two nights later. Sacramento experienced its own letdowns after opening a six-game homestand with an impressive 109-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kings followed up with back-to-back double-digit setbacks against below-.500 teams Phoenix and Memphis, including trailing by as many as 33 points in Sunday's 114-96 loss to the Grizzlies.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (13-23): Point guard Kemba Walker scored 30 points in the loss to the Clippers and knocked 18 3-pointers while averaging 24.2 points over the past five games. Walker topped 30 on four occasions this season and two came in the past five games. Center Dwight Howard struggled to four points on 1-of-9 shooting against the Clippers after delivering 29 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the upset of the Warriors.

ABOUT THE KINGS (12-24): Sacramento's performance and effort on Sunday was highly disappointing to coach Dave Joerger, who struggled to pinpoint the reasons for such a collective collapse. "Lack of focus and lack of force," Joerger told reporters. "They looked at us and shot over us, and then looked us and drove around us. Each guy has to own their own stuff." Center Willie Cauley-Stein collected 21 points and eight rebounds against the Grizzlies and is averaging 16.8 points and 8.8 boards over the past six contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings last season, with Charlotte's victory being a 99-85 triumph in Sacramento.

2. Hornets PF Marvin Williams missed all eight of his shot attempts while going scoreless in back-to-back games.

3. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox (quadriceps) will likely miss his seventh straight contest.

PREDICTION: Kings 106, Hornets 102