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    Tyreke Evans (13) fouls Memphis' Tony Allen. Evans, who had missed 11 games with a sore left knee, played 12 minutes.

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    The Grizzlies' Jerryd Bayless drives around the Kings' Jimmer Fredette. The Kings had their four-game home win streak halted.

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Kings notes: Homestand to allow more time for practice

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3C
Last Modified: Thursday, Apr. 4, 2013 - 12:36 pm

Returning home from a four-game trip will allow the Kings to do something they couldn't do regularly on the road – practice.

With players coming back after injuries, coach Keith Smart is looking forward to some practice time to help make their return as smooth as possible.

The Kings' next game is Thursday against Dallas, allowing for two days to work on some details. Monday's game against Memphis opened a five-game homestand.

"(We have) a couple of days to work a little bit and break some things down," Smart said. "And we've always responded pretty well when having a couple of days to break things down."

The Kings will spend time getting players used to being on the floor in game situations again.

Practice time should help guard Tyreke Evans, who returned Monday.

Evans had been out since Dec. 16 because of a sore left knee. He joined the Kings for the last two games of the recent trip but was only able to run and go through drills because the Kings didn't have time to practice at the end of the trip.

Smart said guard Marcus Thornton (sprained left ankle) also could return in the next few days. He has missed the last five games.

Agent visit – DeMarcus Cousins' new agent, Dan Fegan, attended Monday's game. Fegan was in town to meet with Kings management, including basketball president Geoff Petrie.

Cousins hired Fegan last month, fueling speculation the center would try to force his way out of Sacramento via trade.

The Kings, however, have no intention of trading Cousins, and Cousins has said he is not trying to force a trade.

Comparing bigs – Smart often has said that as Cousins' game evolves, he might want to pick up some of the tactics used by Memphis forward Zach Randolph.

Randolph is noted for not being an exceptional athlete but rather a player who's crafty in creating offense and grabbing rebounds.

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins doesn't see similarities between Randolph and Cousins.

"(Cousins is) bigger, quicker, more athletic," Hollins said. "Zach would wish to be his height."

Cousins is listed at 6-foot-11, and Randolph is 6-foot-9.

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