Kings' DeMarcus Cousins to miss next two games with Achilles injury

Memphis forward Marc Gasol sat out the entire second half with neck spasms but finished with eight points. DeMarcus Cousins remains monstrous, averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just 26 minutes per game while shooting 40 percent from 3. His status is day to day.

The Grizzlies were eager to rebound after a franchise-worst, 50-point loss Monday to the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Memphis SG Courtney Lee was 2-of-11 and missed all five 3-pointers Monday - making him 12-of-38 from the field and 2-of-16 from 3-point range on the season.3.

Although he might have gave the reason the media to brand him the way he is now, Rondo said everything that happened the previous seasons is a thing of the past and he is no longer turning back. "We have our sights set on playing in June, but we have to do a better job of being consistent like we have always been in the past". However, he still averaged 24.1 points a game and 12.7 rebounds, while also participating in his first-ever All-Star game.

To match up with Memphis' behemoths of Gasol and Randolph, it's likely to fall to Cauley-Stein and Koufos (who backed up Gasol the last two seasons in Memphis) to do the heavy lifting. They lacked any offensive consistency without him Tuesday and the Grizzlies scored frequently inside with Cousins' presence definitely missed.

For the sake of the Kings and their fans, I hope I'm right. They have good defense, and they try to take away your strengths as much as possible.

"Our defense creates offense". Sacramento totalled a season-low 17 assists and the Grizzlies helped force 14 turnovers.

Rookie Willie-Cauley Stein will draw his third consecutive start and will be tasked with either guarding last years dark horse for MVP or the NBA's biggest "bully ball" player. "I might be out of the league if I didn't have a guy like K.G.to show me the ropes and a coach like Doc Rivers", Rondo said.

It's still too early to have any final conclusion regarding Ronda and the Kings, we would just have to wait and see how the game of the Kings and Rondo would progress throughout the season.

Depth - With Cousins sidelined Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies and Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns, Karl said seldom-used reserves Eric Moreland and Quincy Acy could be called upon.

 

After shooting around 59 percent and leading 29-25 after one quarter, the Kings could do little right in the second, when Memphis took over the game. The Kings shot 2 of 15, their fewest field goals in a quarter since March 27, 2009, when they also had two baskets against Utah. The Grizzlies had a 25-11 edge in the second and never trailed again. But without Cousins in a four-game week, the going could get rough pretty fast.