A look at the Kings' opponents this week:
Today, vs. San Antonio
Time: 6 p.m. TV: CSN.
The skinny: Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin – and even swingman Francisco García – might return this week. But every win earned in their absence is a good thing for the Kings, who have the home-court edge and host a Spurs team without injured Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Tuesday, at Memphis
Time: 5 p.m. TV: CSN.
The skinny: The Grizzlies have three days to prepare for the Kings and devise ways to end their four-game losing streak. After losses to Denver, Phoenix and New York, they pushed Milwaukee to overtime before falling 101-96. As evidenced in the Kings' home win over Memphis on Nov. 5, Grizzlies rookie guard O.J. Mayo is worth the ticket price. He had 28 points in that game, and the USC product leads all rookies at 21.0 points per game.
Wednesday, at New Orleans
Time: 5 p.m. TV: CSN.
The skinny: Even if Martin and García have returned by this point, the task at hand is daunting. The Hornets are legitimate title contenders, with point guard Chris Paul off to a sensational start as he entered Saturday averaging 21.9 points, 11.5 assists and 3.25 steals. The Kings have lost six of their last seven against the Hornets on the road.
Friday, vs. Portland
Time: 7 p.m. TV: Ch. 10.
The skinny: Who could forget that inauspicious exhibition opener in the City of Roses, where long-awaited Trail Blazers center Greg Oden dominated down low and the Kings looked as if they were ready for summer vacation already. As it was, the Kings weren't as bad as they first appeared, and the Blazers' process of learning how good they can be continues.
– Sam Amick
FIRE AND ICE
Sam Amick analyzes who starred and who struggled last week.
ON FIRE PG Beno Udrih
When the Kings' loss to Phoenix on Friday was complete, there were more than a few shots Udrih wished he could have had back, as he hit just 7 of 16 overall. But he was otherwise good in a week when the Kings so badly needed a turnaround. In the two previous games , Udrih recovered from his slow start to the season to hit 21 of 34 shots (61.8 percent) as they split games with Detroit and the Los Angeles Clippers. His seven-assist outing against the Clippers needs to become the norm and not the exception.
ON ICE PG Bobby Brown
The other key member of the team's point guard stable has been far from horrible, but a week that began with a 13-point, three-assist outing against Golden State went downward. In his last 35 combined minutes (over three games), he has just two assists and three field goals in 10 attempts. When Brown has been good, he can be electric, confident and effective all at once. Often, however, he's passive and loses his rhythm for long stretches.
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