MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The bad news started for the Kings about 12 hours before Saturday's tipoff.

About 7 a.m., John Salmons called the Kings' training staff to tell them he was sick. Salmons didn't come to the game because of his illness, which coach Keith Smart described as a stomach virus, and Salmons was kept at a Memphis hospital overnight.

Then early in the second quarter, Marcus Thornton's bruised left thigh was aggravated to the point he could not play.

The final result was the Kings' worst loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, 128-95. It surpassed their 120-92 setback to Memphis on Feb. 26, 2011.

So a night after what Salmons called the Kings' biggest win of the season – at San Antonio – Sacramento found itself blown out on the road again. They are 2-8 on the road with an average margin of defeat of 24 points.

The loss ended the Kings' winning streak at two. Before beating San Antonio and Indiana this week, the Kings had not won consecutive games all season.

"(The Grizzlies) did what they needed to do," Smart said. "Close out a team that was kind of wounded, but I thought our guys tried to play all the way through but didn't have the necessary energy or manpower that we had (Friday) night in San Antonio."

The Grizzlies also played Friday night, winning at Detroit 98-81. But against the Kings, they showed no signs of fatigue.

A 12-0 run to start the third quarter propelled Memphis to its sixth consecutive win.

The Grizzlies fell one point short of the league's high this season and made 50 baskets to match the league high they set in a 113-96 victory over the Kings on Jan. 3.

The Kings fell behind by 19 points in the second quarter, but a rally led by rookie Jimmer Fredette brought them within 68-60 at halftime. Fredette had 15 points and five assists in the second quarter.

Without Thornton, Smart let Fredette play through his mistakes and try to work his way into form after the rookie had struggled to find his rhythm.

Fredette finished with season highs in minutes (33), points (20) and assists (six).

"Just knowing he was going to let me play through mistakes let me get into the flow of the game and just kind of play the way I can," Fredette said.

"Not thinking about anything, just go out there, play your game and shoot your shots, make plays, pass to others, and I think that helped me out."

The Kings could need more of that from Fredette depending on how Thornton feels.

"It didn't feel too good coming into the game, but I felt once it loosened up, I'd be all right," Thornton said. "But it never loosened up."

Thornton first injured his leg Jan. 8 against Orlando when he was kneed by Magic center Dwight Howard as he set a screen.

Coming off a screen proved problematic again for Thornton, who entered the game leading the Kings (6-11) at 17.5 points per game. Thornton said he hurt himself against the Spurs chasing guard Danny Green around a screen.

"Things happen, but back to the rehabbing process, I guess," Thornton said.

The Grizzlies (9-6) had four players with at least 20 points, led by forward Rudy Gay with 23. Marreese Speights grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds for Memphis.

DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, and Donté Greene had 19 points off the bench.

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