Now that LeBron James is in Miami, maybe the Sacramento Kings will have more success when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two teams will clash tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Kings have lost eight straight and nine of their last 10 matchups with Cleveland and haven't recorded a win in this series since a 97-90 triumph back on March 1, 2006 in the Forest City.
Sacramento won its season opener at Milwaukee, but dropped a 106-100 decision in New Jersey Friday night. Tyreke Evans and Francisco Garcia both scored 18 points, while Carl Landry and Beno Udrih netted 14 points apiece for the Kings, who will close out their season-opening three-game trek tonight. Evans was back on the floor after serving a one-game suspension for pleading no- contest to a reckless driving offense.
"We have to stop fouling so much. When we take 93 shots and the Nets take 61, we are supposed to win," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said.
DeMarcus Cousins and Darnell Jackson both provided 12 points in the win. The Kings will return to California's capital to host the Raptors, Lakers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves after Saturday's game.
After shocking the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics on Wednesday to kick off the season, Cleveland fell back to earth with last night's 101-81 loss at Toronto.
Antawn Jamison and Anthony finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Cavs, who shot a putrid 38.1 percent from the floor and were outrebounded by a 46-33 margin.
"We allow a team to shoot 47 percent and get 26 fast-break points and outrebound us by 14, 15, we're going to lose a lot of games," said Cavaliers first-year head coach Byron Scott. "Again, from a defensive standpoint, what we've been talking about all season long, all preseason and training camp, is defending, and tonight we didn't do a very good job."
In Cleveland's defense, it didn't have Mo Williams (groin) and Anderson Varejao (personal) against the Raptors. It's uncertain if the two will be available to play tonight at home.
The Kings are winless in their last four trips to the Q.