The Sacramento Kings look to snap their two-game losing streak Thursday night in the Big Easy. They will have to accomplish that without George Karl, who will not coach due to a bout of gastroenteritis.
Associate head coach Chad Iske will assume coaching duties.
With a win, the Kings will move back into sole possession of the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. The Kings will face a beat up New Orleans Pelicans team missing at least one starter, but potentially more.
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DeMarcus Cousins is coming off his worst performance in a while, scoring 17 points on 4-of-21 shooting in Tuesday’s 112-97 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Big man Anthony Davis is out after suffering a concussion in Monday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. The star big man leads the Pelicans in scoring (22.9), rebounding (10.9) and blocked shots (2.4).
LINE
Kings by 3
NBA
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Willie Cauley-Stein vs. Ryan Anderson -- The rookie has brought energy and a defensive presence to a club in desperate need of both. With Davis unlikely to play, he’ll draw one of the league’s best stretch fours. Cauley-Stein has shown a propensity for sagging off perimeter shooters. If he does that in New Orleans, Anderson will torch him.
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 20-25, third place in Pacific
Pelicans: 16-28, last place in Southwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: F Rudy Gay (corneal abrasion) out, F Eric Moreland (foot surgery) out, F Duje Dukan (lower leg) out.
Pelicans: F/C Anthony Davis (concussion) out, G Tyreke Evans (knee) out.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the second of four matchups between these two teams this season, with the Pelicans taking game one by a final of 109-97 two weeks ago at Sleep Train Arena. New Orleans holds a slight 38-37 lead in the all-time series between these two clubs.