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The Kings' superstar center lost his cool during a lopsided beatdown in Boston.

Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins was ejected in the fourth quarter of the team's game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday for throwing opposing point guard Marcus Smart to the ground near the basket. Cousins was tagged with his second technical foul of the game on the play, leading to an automatic ejection.

As Grantland's Zach Lowe points out, this behavior continues an unfortunate trend for Cousins since his return from a viral illness and the recent firing of head coach Michael Malone.

Boogie hasn't been same defensively since coming back from virus. You hope it's just getting his wind, but some of those old habits are back

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 31, 2014

Discontent with Malone firing surely at play to some degree, but he's loafing in all the old damaging ways again. Has to stop.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 31, 2014

Earlier this season, Cousins appeared to be breaking away from some of his old habits while establishing himself as one of the game's elite players. The 24-year-old was last ejected from a game back in February 2014 after he lashed out at referees during a loss to Houston. With days like Wednesday, one has to hope that Cousins is not falling back into those "damaging ways" as the losses pile up in Sacramento.

A lifeless Kings team shot horrendously and let a poor Celtics team get whatever they wanted offensively

This team has talent. I swear. I've seen it. You've probably seen it. But matching up against the Boston Celtics, a team that has lost four in a row and is among the worst in the league defensively, the Sacramento Kings laid one giant egg on both ends of the floor, getting destroyed 106-84.

In the interest of fairness, it should be pointed out that this was a game that started at 10:00 AM on the West Coast, a completely bizarre scheduling anomaly for a Wednesday. The bad shooting was understandable, and man was it atrocious. As a team, the Kings shot 36.8% from the field, including 13% from three with only 12 total assists. DeMarcus Cousins shot 5/17, Rudy Gay shot 4/19 and Darren Collison shot 4/10. And most of these shots were quality looks. The only starter to show any life offensively was Ben McLemore, who played limited minutes because of foul trouble. The offense just could not get anything going consistently from the perimeter.

But the early start excuse only goes so far. When a team struggles from the perimeter, there are options available to stay in a game. You need to attack the rim and lock down defensively. While the Kings felt like they did not get the benefit of the call, they did get to the free throw line 28 times, but only shot 64% when there. And the team still settled for far too many midrange jumpers when it was clear that well was dry.

The defense was also quite awful for majority of the game. The Celtics shot 46.8% from the field and racked up 32 assists. There are two main issues defensively. First is that the team is not closing out on shooters aggressively enough. Its not enough for the team to allow a midrange jumper, if the jump shot is uncontested like it has been so often, NBA teams will make you pay. This is usually the cause of two things; either players are not trusting the rotations behind them, or there simply isn't enough urgency for guys to give a full effort and lay themselves out defensively.

The second issue is that the Kings are not shutting off the passing lanes. The rotations are usually where they need to be, but good defensive teams cut off options for the defensive player, making them hesitate and second-guess. The Celtics whipped the ball surgically far too easily with little challenge from the Kings. Those passes are ripe for the picking, and if the defense starts to force some turnovers on those high-risk passes, the offensive players become gun-shy in trying them. Right now, its way too easy to cut through the Kings' rotations with pocket and cross-court passes. The results truly speak for themselves.

Another mystery in this game was the demotion of Jason Thompson from starter to DNP-CD. Ryan Hollins got the start and put up a JT-like statline of 4 points 3 rebounds in 11 minutes. Its unclear why he has vanished from the rotation so suddenly, whether its another directive from management or if its Tyrone Corbin ad-libbing on the fly.

The Kings have now lost 9 of their last 11 games and stumble into 2015 with yet another loss. The frustration is slowly giving way to numbness on the players' faces. Cousins was ejected with two technical fouls after only one technical the entire season to date. But the team looks beaten and lifeless. There's no easy answers right now; nobody knows what will spark this team to life again back to the intensity levels they showed in November. With Corbin signed for the rest of the year and no new coaching hire to serve as rescuing cavalry, management needs to find a way to shake things up. The team needs a defibrillator and fast. This road trip can still be salvaged, with a game against Minnesota tomorrow and Detroit on Sunday, but this is rapidly becoming yet another lost season in Sacramento.

For the opponent's perspective, visit Celtics Blog

DeMarcus Cousins was ejected for body slamming Marcus Smart, but not before Jared Sullinger took him and the rest of the Kings' front court to school. Basketball Insiders' Jessica Camerato joined CLNS Radio's Jared Weiss to break it all down on the Garden Report: Celtics Post Game Show!

Kevin Fippin joins us as we discuss the fallout of Michael Malone's firing.

The Sactown Royalty Show is back! This week I'm joined by our friend Kevin Fippin. Kevin's always a great guest and this episode was no different. We talked about the current state of the Kings, the fallout of the Michael Malone firing, and much more. Be sure to check it out.

This episode was recorded on December 30th. Please note, we're still trying to get the sound levels corrected. Sorry for the difference in volume between me and Kevin.

Like the show? Subscribe to us on iTunes or on Stitcher! Leave us ratings, leave comments, let us know how we're doing. Ratings and comments on iTunes really help us out with promoting the show. And of course, continue the discussion in the comments below.

And a big thanks to Audible.com for supporting us. To get your free 30-day trial and a free audiobook, sign up here. Using that particular link gets you the special offer, and let's them know you heard about them through our show.

As always, thanks for listening.

The Minnesota Timberwolves could be exactly what the Sacramento Kings need to get their first win on their current four-game road trip. The Wolves are 5-25, have lost nine games in a row (longest losing streak since 2012) and are 3-11 at home this season. But nothing is guaranteed with these Kings lately. The game tips off at 5:00 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet California and on KHTK 1140.

3 Things to Look For

1. The Timberwolves do not play defense. They are 29th in the league in opponent points allowed at 108.7 per game. They are also dead last in opponent field goal percentage as they let their opponents shoot nearly 50 percent. Unfortunately, the Kings aren't much better these days as they are 26th in opponent points allowed (104.1 per game), but the deficiencies of the Timberwolves should work in the Kings' favor.

2. With Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin all out due to injury, the Timberwolves have been leaning on Shabazz Muhammad and Andrew Wiggins for scoring. Over the last 10 games, Muhammad is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1 steal per game. He also is shooting well from three this season (48 percent). He scored a career-high 30 points against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Wiggins has had some good scoring performances recently, and the first time the Kings played the Timberwolves this season, he scored 29 points. The Kings will need to lock in on them.

3. The Timberwolves are a young team and are having trouble winning without their three main starters. Not that the Kings know how to exactly win these days, but if they can manage to play the right way in the fourth quarter and use their experience to their favor, they should come away with a win.

Pregame Limerick

The Kings desperately need to win a game.

What has happened to them recently is a shame.

In real life, one would expect

a King to defeat a wolf.

But nothing is a given for the Kings until they play for each other again instead of individual fame.

Prediction

Kings 111, Timberwolves 108

Update

Here is the Kings injury report:

Omri Casspi (left knee bone contusion) - DOUBTFUL

Ramon Sessions (low back strain) - OUT

Eric Moreland is out with a left shoulder labral tear. He is scheduled to have surgery on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season.

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald  Celtics beat Kings in New Year's Eve matinee
Celtics dominate Kings to end slide
Talk of the Town: Tyler Zeller a bright light for Celtics
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Celtics 106, Kings 84

Globe  DeMarcus Cousins Ejected After Body-slamming Marcus Smart
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CelticsGreen  Comments from the Other Side - Kings 12/31/14
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Today's Video: Postgame Report, Crowder&Wright Highlights, Analysis, and Celtics Highlights
CelticsBlog  Cousins tosses Smart who doesn't back down
Celtics frustrate Cousins and Kings, win 106-84
CelticsBlog's Kevin O'Connor has three wishes for the 2015 Boston Celtics

ESPN   Celtics 106, Kings 84: Boston finds a quality mix
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Red's Army  Your Morning Dump… Where Marcus Smart tried to run thru DeMarcus Cousins’ chest
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CLNS Radio  Jared Sullinger leads Celtics' wire-to-wire win to end 2014 over Sacramento Kings

Celtics.com  Celtics Recall James Young From Red Claws
Keys to the Game: Celtics 106, Kings 84
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NESN  Kelly Olynyk Scores Crazy Up-And-Under Scoop Shot Against Kings (GIF)
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Celtics Notes: Evan Turner Might Be Boston’s Best Bet At Point Guard
Celtics Hub  Game 28 Grades: Celtics 106, Kings 84
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Mass Live  Evan Turner impresses at PG; DeMarcus Cousins held down by physical Celtics defense
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Rondo heads back to Boston
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Sports Quotient Life without Rondo: The Celtics and Brad Stevens must keep moving forward

Pro Basketball Talk  DeMarcus Cousins accuses Marcus Smart of cheap shot before altercation
Press Herald  Red Claws rain down threes on Texas
Telegram  Turner gives Celtics a boost in win over Kings
Star Telegram  Rondo grateful for Celtics’ experience
CSN Bay Area  Instant Replay: Cousins ejected as Kings fall to Celtics
Fox Sports  Rajon Rondo schools Paul Pierce with reverse layup in Mavericks' rout

The Kings rookie will undergo surgery on his shoulder after a labral tear.

Kings rookie forward Eric Moreland will miss the remainder of the season due to a left shoulder labral tear, a Kings spokesperson confirmed with Sactown Royalty.

Moreland, who has been back and forth between the Kings and their D-League affiliate the Reno Bighorns this season, is scheduled to have surgery on Saturday.

Moreland was a bright spot during the Kings Summer League title run in Las Vegas where he averaged 3.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in six games. Following this performance, the Kings signed Moreland to a reported three-year contract. The Kings had been developing Moreland  on the Bighorns. The 6-10, 218-pound forward from Oregon State was averaging nearly 14 points, 13 rebound and 1.5 assists per game in Reno. Moreland never really got a chance to log playing time this season with the Kings, only playing in the waning minutes of three games that had been decided.

The news was initially reported by Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.

Eric Moreland first injured shoulder in college and reinjured it in Summer League. It has gotten worse. Makes his play even more impressive.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 1, 2015

The Wolves begin a four game homestand tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

Kings at Wolves
7:00 pm CST
FS North

Happy New Year everyone!  I'm back from visiting my parents at their new place in Philadelphia, which was excellent fun, but my change in venue did not, apparently, change the fortunes of the Wolves, who failed to win while I was out of town.

Like me, the Wolves are back home to begin a four game homestand tonight against the Kings, with the Jazz, Nuggets, and Suns following, a couple of which will be seen live by our friend YoLeo who is making a trip to the Twin Cities to watch the Wolves and impress his girlfriend with his ability to choose winter vacation destinations.

Oh. Before I forget: Tottenham Hotspur 5, Chelsea FC 3.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, the Kings. The Kings have cooled considerably since their hot start to the year, dropping to 13-19 on the season following the firing of Mike Malone as head coach. They are 2-6 under interim coach Ty Corbin, which is not too surprising.

Still, things are looking up for the Kings, as DeMarcus Cousins has emerged as a true star, averaging 24 and 12 in just over 32 minutes a game. He completely dominated the Wolves in the first matchup between these teams back in November, going for 31 and 18 and making Gorgui Dieng look bad.

The Kings have some definite strengths that the Wolves will have to find ways to deal with if they want to end their losing streak tonight. Led by Cousins and Rudy Gay, they are tops in the league at getting to the free throw line. They are aggressive toward the basket, and Cousins has such size and strength, that teams are forced into committing a ton of fouls against them.

They are also a terrific rebounding team, especially at the offensive end, where they are 2nd in the league in Oreb%. This is a huge problem for the Wolves, who are among the weakest defensive rebounding squads in the NBA.

Both of these things hurt the Wolves in the first match up, as the Kings won both the Oreb% battle, and FT/FGA battle among the four factors. Where the Kings are consistently weak is in turnover disparity, something the Wolves will look to take advantage of, and hopefully generate some open floor opportunities. And, you know, convert them.

On the Wolves side, I haven't been able to watch the last couple of games, but it appears to be more or less business as usual. Prior to that, it looked like Andrew Wiggins was making a concerted effort to get more shots around the basket and settle for fewer mid-range jumpers. From the shot charts, it looks like that's a trend that has continued. Yes? No?

Shabazz Muhammad looks like he broke out of something of a mini-slump with a big scoring game against Utah the other night, including 5-6 from three. That's unexpected.

What else has been going on?

Expected lineups

Kings

Darren Collison
Ben McLemore
Rudy Gay
Jason Thompson
DeMarcus Cousins

Wolves

Zach LaVine
Andrew Wiggins
Shabazz Muhammad
Thaddeus Young
Gorgui Dieng

Here's a link to our blogging buddies at Sactown Royalty. Be excellent.

No no and no.

Enjoy the game. Chat here. Go Wolves.

Oh yeah. Spurs 5-3 Chelsea.

The Wolves managed to climb back into this one several times, but were always fighting from behind, and in the end were unable to make the necessary plays down the stretch as their losing streak is now at 10 following a loss to the Kings at Target Center.

The Wolves hung around, and hung around, and hung around, but in the end failed to make plays down the stretch, turning the ball over and missing free throws at critical moments. As a result, they fell to a struggling Sacramento Kings team 110-107, though they did manage to have a hoist to tie it at the end.

The Wolves got the game tied several times, the last at 99, but couldn't get over the hump in a game the Kings would have been happy to lose. Derrick Williams hit a three to break that last tie, which is no fun at all.

Zach will have the recap later, but a few notes:

• The Wolves got several Kings in foul trouble, and DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay actually fouled out.
• The defense was horrible, particularly in the first half when the Kings shot a billion percent from the field.
• Transition defense? What's that?
• Andrew Wiggins had a strong game, particularly in the first half, but also had a couple of big post-up isolations late, which helped foul Gay out.
• Cousins was still a factor, but Gorgui Dieng did a much better job tonight than in the first meeting of these teams.
• Troy Daniels makes a difference.
• The Wolves took 24 threes! Amazing.
• Jeff Adrien deserves to be on the roster and to play.

Kings allow yet another poor offensive team light up the scoreboard, but score enough to where it doesn't matter

Its pretty much religious doctrine at this point that the Sacramento Kings have to make every game as difficult as possible, win and loss alike. So its not really all that surprising that the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team rocking a 5-25 record on the year, gave the Kings all they could handle down to the very end. Thankfully, while the Kings aren't a team known for its sharp execution, the young Wolves are incredibly raw and the resulting blunder-off to end the game resulted in a Kings victory by the score of 110-107.

Another day, another starting power forward for the Kings. This time Derrick Williams got the nod, which given his career-long tendency to explode every time the opponent's jersey reads "Wolves" and that the Wolves start the tweener Thaddeus Young at PF, wasn't a bad idea in theory. Williams responded with a strong offensive outing, shooting the ball well on the night on his way to 17 points on 6/10 shooting (3/6 from three). The key to Williams at PF, however, is always defense and rebounding. Williams didn't rebound too well on the night, only grabbing five overall, but did play solid defense on Young and the Wolves lost the battle on the boards. The problems with Williams came when he was switched over to shooting guard in a very big lineup, where the Wolves repeatedly took advantage of his lackadaisical attitude and lack of lateral quickness.

Otherwise, the Kings starting lineup again had a strong night. Every starter had a double digit positive +/- except for DeMarcus Cousins, who was +9 on the night, but did add 19 points 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Cousins, unfortunately, was limited to 26 minutes by foul trouble and fouled out with 2:46 remaining in the game. Rudy Gay had one of the oddest games I've ever seen. On one hand, he was getting anywhere he wanted to offensively, scoring an easy 21 points on 7/12 shooting and adding 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Unfortunately, Gay also had a career high 8 turnovers, and it wasn't the Wolves playing great defense; it was some mindnumbingly stupid stuff. Gay also was atrocious defensively, letting Andrew Wiggins get loose for 27 points, again; the first time Wiggins played against the Kings, he had 29 points. Darren Collison was quiet in the first half but came alive in the second, finishing with 21 points and six assists. He helped the Kings close the game out with heady play. Ben McLemore also peppered in 14 points on 6/9 shooting while playing some pretty solid defense on the night minus some miscues.

The Kings' bench continues to be a work in progress. Every bench player was a minus in the +/- ledger, and most of the issues were defensively. While it was rare to see five-man bench units on the court, usually starters would be forced out of position to give other starters a breather, such as seeing McLemore in at SF and Williams at SG. Carl Landry was passable on the night, chipping in 8 points and 9 rebounds while also not getting completely annihilated by Young, which is a minor miracle. Jason Thompson came in off the bench at center behind Cousins and was both good and bad from play to play, certainly nothing noteworthy enough to reclaim his starting position. The two young guards, Ray McCallum and Nik Stauskas, struggled to add anything

It will be interesting to see now what Tyrone Corbin does with the power forward position going forward. Williams may have worked out tonight but its unclear whether his lack of rebounding and defense will be a problem against better teams. On the other hand, he wasn't a huge problem defensively when he lined up at power forward and the team together can mitigate his rebounding deficiencies because both Cousins and Gay are plus rebounders for their positions. It sounds a little more NBA 3.0-ish to have Williams as the PF going forward, as I recall when the Kings traded for Gay the Kings insisted both Gay and Willimas could play together. The Kings next play Sunday at 3pm against the Detroit Pistons, who have a very big frontcourt, so things are about to get interesting.

For the opponent's perspective, visit Canis Hoopus

Corbin says he wants to return the focus to defense, but is it too little, too late?

Tyrone Corbin wants the team to return its focus to defense, according to Jason Jones' latest latest column in the Sacramento Bee. This desire to return to defense mirrors the wishes of DeMarcus Cousins and Kings fans. Cousins has made statements after recent games that the team needs to get back to defense. Since Corbin took over for Michael Malone on December 15th, the team's effort has been missing in both ends of the floor, especially on defense. Corbin told Jones:

"We’ve tried to change a couple calls," Corbin said before the Kings played the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Target Center. "We’re probably going to go back to where we were before. The communication has slacked up some (with) the miscommunications in some pick-and-roll coverages. It’s just to clarify some things and make sure we’re on the same page there."

The question at this point is whether it's too late. The focus on defense never should have gone away in the first place. Management, ownership, or some combination of the two, mandated a focus on offense, a focus on pace. It was a mistake. It wasn't a change Corbin was equipped to handle, through no fault of his own. But the issue with the defense goes beyond coaching focus. The locker room is lost. The players are lost. That more than anything is why the team has suffered. We'll now see if Corbin can salvage the season through defense. He has a tough task ahead.

The Kings are increasingly a mess.  They are 3-6 since Mike Malone was fired, 3-4 since DeMarcus Cousins returned to health. Cousins has looked like his old self --not a good thing-- when he tossed Marcus Smart to the floor like he was a rag doll on New Year's Eve, earning himself an ejection.

It doesn't end there.

• DMC is reportedly upset with the firing of Malone, itself a head-scratcher, and isn't playing up to par, particularly on defense, as a result.

• The Kings quietly (secretly?) signed Ty Corbin for the rest of the season, failing to tell the team's players, who found out from the media.

• And after starting 31 straight games at power forward, Jason Thompson --one of four players rumored to be headed to Brooklyn-- was replaced by Ryan Hollins and benched for the whole game vs. Boston.  So, he's not happy either.

What does that mean for the rumored Nets-Kings trade?  Nothing yet. The talks are reportedly stalled because of the Kings' insistence that Mason Plumlee be added to the deal and the Nets' adamant refusal to include him.

In fact, the Nets apparently are adamant about not including any of their young talent, which includes both Bojan Bogdanovic, who's fallen out of the rotation, and Sergey Karasev, who's starting ... and playing well.

As Chris Mannix reports in a mini-profile on Darren Collison, the big piece the Kings would give up...

The talks stalled -- the Kings insisted on Mason Plumlee being included; Brooklyn isn’t interested in parting with Plumlee or any of its young talent -- but there are no guarantees Collison will be with the Kings through the end of the season.

Sounds like Mannix doesn't think the deal is dead though.

Mannix praises Collison as a potential Most Improved Player candidate, citing his numbers -- career-highs in scoring (16.2) and assists (6.0) and Player Efficiency Rating (18.4) -- but not how Deron Williams went right at him in last week's Nets game, got him in early foul trouble and rendered him ineffective.

One telling comment --or possibly a throwaway line-- Mannix used in discussing Collison's future..."wherever he plays."  Collison tells Mannix he likes that he's gotten an opportunity to show what he can do in Sacramento, but at least in the quotes Mannix used, doesn't mention anyone in the Kings organization.

Stay tuned.

• Open Floor: Rebuilding Roy Hibbert, Cavaliers' bad omens and more - Chris Mannix - Sports Illustrated
• Since Mike Malone firing, the Kings lack spirit, identity - James Herbert - CBS Sports
• DeMarcus Cousins gave up on an entire offensive possession - Mike Prado - SB Nation
  

The Timberwolves rookie is slowly showing why he was such a highly touted prospect.

Andrew Wiggins sometimes looks like a savvy 39-year-old veteran and other times like a 29-year-old athlete at the peak of his life and athletic abilities. He also looks like the 19-year-old that he is, but that's happening less and less often.

The Timberwolves only have one win since November, but Wiggins has shined anyway. The No. 1 overall pick is a favorite to win the Rookie of the Year race and his 27-point performance in Thursday's loss to the Kings shows why.

Throughout the contest, Wiggins showed all the different phases of his game. He worked out of the post, drove from the corner and hit jumpers inside and outside the 3-point line. He moved off the ball, diving into the lane the split second his defender relaxed to hammer a one-handed dunk. He banged inside underneath the basket for an offensive rebound and putback layup. His two second-quarter dunks were pretty, but his smooth play around the basket stood out even more.

On a play like this, Wiggins is using all of his athletic gifts -- an initial burst of acceleration, speed to whirl by before the help defender can react and a burst off two feet to finish near the basket. Each separate segment of the play is impressive, but the way he puts it all together in a package that hardly even looks difficult is miraculous.

(Via FOX Sports North)

It's remarkable how proficient Wiggins has already become as a post-up player. It's not just a move or two. Wiggins has developed a full arsenal of options and counter options. You can watch him comfortably alternate from a jump hook to a turnaround to a pivot around his defender for an easy layup. If that doesn't work, he'll turn, face his man up and blow by him. Longtime NBA players who have worked out of the post their whole careers don't look as smooth as Wiggins does, even though he has played a total of 31 NBA games.

Wiggins is learning. He still has rookie moments if you look beyond his highlights, stuff like driving into the lane without a plan and turning the ball over. He'll need to improve his shooting percentages -- 41 percent from the floor and 69 percent from the free throw line -- as he continues to grow as a player and needs to be a more consistent rebounder considering his size and athleticism in that area. His defense, like every young player, is hit and miss.

He'll be taught smaller things, too. In one moment on Thursday, he watched his three-point attempt instead of getting back on defense and allowed an easy layup when Sacramento rebounded quickly and Wiggins' man beat him down the floor. His game might not be polished, but little moments of development will only come in time for the budding star.

For now, Wiggins is in a perfect situation. He should be thankful he's not caught up in the media whirlwind of Cleveland and LeBron James, and instead has time to hone his game in the quiet winter of Minnesota. He's scored more than 20 points in four of his last five games -- his best scoring stretch thus far -- and his December numbers were better than November in almost every category. If this first game of January is any indication, he's prepared to improve on all of them again.

Even though he plays for one of the worst teams in the league, take a minute to watch Wiggins grow up this season.

★★★

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If it bleeds, we can kill it.

The Detroit Pistons won their fourth straight on Friday night in what was not at all a fight. In fact, it was a one-sided bloodbath through three. (I thought the above GIF MFMP used in the GameThread to recap the third quarter was apt.)

The game was one ugly MFer in the first quarter with five turnovers and nine misses in the first four minutes. Slack-jawed Jason Smith took a pass off the face during that time. The Pistons only led 24-20 after the quarter despite the Knicks being without Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Second and third quarters? Knock-knock.

The Pistons outscored the Knicks 58-32 in the second and third behind the swag of Brandon Jennings, who said "you fall behind, you're on your own." Jennings came on with 54 seconds left in the second quarter, scored a couple quick buckets and then followed it up in the third with 16 points on his way to a game-high 29 points (a step off from 30). The Knicks scored 14 in the third.

The Pistons led by 19 at the half and 30 points going into the fourth quarter. Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each scored eight in the second quarter to help extend the lead. It was all Jennings in the third.

The Knicks are a sad, sad team. It's hard to believe that the Pistons and Knicks were separated by only three wins before the game. They looked like two completely different teams going in completely different directions. They are.

The Pistons get to the choppa and head home to host the Kings on Sunday for a legitimate shot at five in a row and their 10th win of the season.

QUICK BULLETS:

-- Andre Drummond grabbed 20 rebounds, but only scored seven points. He also had three steals and four assists.

-- Meeks had 15 points off the bench.

-- D.J. Augustin had nine assists, several on some great finds, but he over-dribbled into five turnovers, too.

-- Joel Anthony had another two blocks late, adding to the four swats he had the other night in Orlando.

Box Score

Roll Call:

Tonight the Kings took to get their second win of this road trip against a team in the Detroit Pistons that has dominated them in recent years.  Josh Smith is no longer there for the Kings to make look unreasonably good but the Pistons have hilariously started to gel in light of the (star?) (small?) forward's dismissal and now look to win their fifth straight game for the first time since 2009.  The game tips off at 3:00 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and KHTK 1140.

3 Things To Look For

1. The Pistons have recently been on fire from three point range.  During their four-game winning streak they've connected on 43.9 percent of their attempts from deep.  Jodie Meeks, who the team lost earlier in the year to injury, has gone 16 of 24 from three during that stretch.  The Kings, to put it lightly, have done a poor job of defending the three in recent years.  Keeping the Pistons from getting comfortable from deep will be key to the Kings pulling out the victory.

2. The Kings going small.  In Minnesota on Thursday the Kings made a change to the starting lineup, inserting Derrick Williams in at the power forward position en route to him scoring 17 points on 3 of 6 shooting from deep.  It was an interesting and predictable look for the team as they transition into "phase 2" predicated more on an up tempo style that calls for having a player as athletic as Williams playing one of the big man positions.  The Pistons, however, are big up front, with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond.  DeMarcus has not looked the same defensively since his return from viral meningitis, so the Kings should be cautious of going small without the same of defensive anchor they had to begin the year.  While it may not be a tactic they could use for most of the game, keeping it as a part of the attack plan would be a welcome embrace of Williams' ability.

3. The Pistons are 9-23.  While they are on a four game winning streak and have seemingly righted their ship, this is a game the Kings should win.  Especially if they have any hope of regaining their form from earlier in the season.

Pregame Limerick

Maybe, for the Kings, a streak of two.

Maybe, for the team who has been playing like poo,

Struggling to find a reason to stay alive

as the Pistons go for five.

Sorry, I'm feeling a little bit blue.

Prediction

Kings 103, Pistons 96.

Update

Omri Casspi (left knee bone contusion) - OUT

Ramon Sessions (low back strain) - OUT

Eric Moreland (season ending shoulder surgery) - SADNESS

George Karl might get hired as the Sacramento Kings head coach after all, the former NBA coach "remains near the top of the list."

It's been three weeks since the Sacramento Kings abruptly fired Mike Malone, and they still don't have a replacement. Tyrone Corbin, who stepped into the vacancy left by Malone, signed to coach the Kings for the rest of the season on Dec. 30, leaving many under the impression that a more permanent hire would have to wait. But Kings fans shouldn't count out George Karl just yet.

"The former NBA head coach and current ESPN analyst remains near the top of the list" of Kings coaching candidates, according to Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.

Voisin reports that some Kings owners wanted to offer Karl the job the day Malone was fired, but that general manager Pete D'Alessandro is turning every stone in order to make the perfect hire. It's a process that is taking too long. Viosin writes: "D'Alessandro is so intent on making the perfect hire -- so fearful of making a mistake -- that he is digging around like a CIA agent, thinking too hard and anticipating the worst.

The Kings, meanwhile, have continued to sputter after a torrid 5-1 start to the season. Malone was fired after a loss to the Detroit Pistons that left Sacramento 11-13. Under Corbin, the Kings are 3-6.

While Corbin signed an extension through the end of the year, Karl could still be hired to take his place.

Karl is one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He's won 1,131 games and lost 756 over 25 seasons in the NBA. His teams made the playoffs in 22 of those seasons and he led the Seattle Super Sonics to the 1996 NBA Finals.

Teaming DeMarcus Cousins with one of the top coaches in the league adds even more intrigue to a possible Karl hiring.

For now, it's a waiting game. D'Allessandro has to finish his search, but George Karl still looks to be the frontrunner.

Brandon Jennings has been hot and cold. Which version will occur tonight?

How about those Pistons!!!  4.5 games off a playoff spot with a 9-23 record.  That, my friends, is the Eastern Conference in a nutshell.  Unfortunately, the viewership of this game may be diminished thanks to the Detroit Lions' crucial playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.  Not much of a football fan, but I do follow the Lions for Detroit reasons, despite having no ties to the city, and I hope Justin Verlander can score lots of goals and help the team to victory (right?).

Game Vitals

Where:Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Mi

When:6PM EST, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015

Watch:Fox Sports Detroit

Exceptionally Detailed Analysis

Well, the Pistons have been riding the hot hand, and coupled with some favorable circumstances and matchups, have built a four-game winning streak, tied for the longest active streak in the NBA with Portland and Dallas.  Brandon Jennings provided the swag, finishing with 29 points in the 97-81 win over New York.  While the final scoreline indicates a 16 point margin, not small by any means, the reality is that the Pistons lambasted the hapless Knicks, and at one point were up 33 before a meaningless J.R. Smith run late restored an inkling of respectability, before the MSG crowd booed off the team, who were missing numerous key players such as Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr., Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert.

The Pistons are hot from deep, and this form is unsustainable.  In the PSE, the team has hit 54 threes at a 44-percent clip, thanks to hot shooting from the likes of Jennings, Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.  The three-point barrage can be attributed to more space thanks to a traditional power forward in Monroe, and more perimeter threats, meaning that teams can no longer simply aggressively double a player knowing there is a negative standing on the three point line.  This means more room and more open shots.

Sacramento won their last game 110-107, struggling to put away Minnesota, who have now lost 10 straight.  DeMarcus Cousins had 19 and 7 rebounds while Derrick Williams added 17.  The Kings have struggled recently, since firing head coach Mike Malone, due to an ownership with an inflated opinion of its basketball knowledge, and a GM who is nothing more than a marionette.  Cousins has reverted back to frustrated sulking and the Kings, who had a promising start to the season, are now in danger of falling out of the playoff race in a tough Western Conference.

Players To Watch

Pistons: Greg Monroe

Greg has been amazingly average in the PSE (or Tolliverse, if you follow rookie Spencer Dinwiddie on Twitter).  His shot hasn't fallen and his percentages have suffered, although it hasn't affected the team too much.  If he can establish dominance early against probably the Kings' weakest position, then he can repeat his performance from the first matchup at the Sleep Train Arena.

Kings:Josh Smith DeMarcus Cousins

Boogie didn't play last time these two teams met, and since that time, both teams have deviated separate trajectories.  Whether Cousins can overcome the deficit by himself we don't know, but his presence will surely help.

Last Time We Met

Dec.13, 2014 (PPSE [pre post Smith era]).  The Pistons won 95-90 in Sacramento, with Josh Smith turning in a fantastic 21 point, 13 rebound performance, and Greg Monroe top scored with 24.  Rudy Gay led the Kings with 20 points.

Connections

-Pistons F Caron Butler played with Kings F Reggie Evans for the Clippers in 2011-12

-Pistons C Andre Drummond played with Kings F Rudy Gay and C DeMarcus Cousins on the Team USA, gold-winning FIBA World Cup squad

-Pistons G D.J. Augustin played with Kings C Ryan Hollins for the Bobcats in 2008-09

-Kings G Ray McCallum Jr. was born in Detroit and played collegiately at Detroit-Mercy from 2010-13

-Kings G Nik Stauskas played collegiately at Michigan from 2012-14

-Kings asst. coach Corliss Williamson played 266 games for the Pistons from 2001-04, winning 6th Man of the Year in 2002 and the NBA Championship in 2004

Score Prediction

I see no reason why the swag train has to stop now.

Pistons 104, Kings 90

Lineup Prediction

Pistons:$WAG, Pope, Lebron-Stopper, Moose, Spare Tire Penguin

Kings:Collison, McLemore, Gay, Williams, Cousins

Injured/In Doubt

Pistons:None

Kings:Casspi (knee), Moreland (shoulder), Sessions (back)

Community Question

How fabulous are Anthony Tolliver's long socks, on a scale of 1 to MFMP.

The win streak is up to five as the Pistons win with yet another blowout against the Sacramento Kings.

The Pistons used a 30-17 fourth quarter to run away from the Kings, but for most of the game it was at least a contest.

The Pistons went up as far as 16 points in the second quarter, threatening to make this yet another blowout win in their five game winning streak. But the Kings closed the quarter with a seven point run and kept within striking distance for most of the rest of the game, until the Pistons ran away in the fourth.

It was a swag game for Brandon Jennings as he finished with 35 points and 7 assists. He's surpassed 25 points in three of the past four games.

Greg Monroe had looked like it might be another ugly game for him, but battled back to a nice 14 points, 11 rebound line. He also played some terrific defense on DeMarcus Cousins.

The Pistons big men gave Cousins fits as he finished with 18 points on 5-17 shooting and 6 turnovers. As a whole, the Detroit defense held the Kings to just 42.7 percent shooting on the night, including only 20 percent on 15 attempts from 3.

Andre Drummond put up 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks, but he made his presence felt most down the stretch to close out the Kings.

He picked up a Caron Butler steal from Cousins for a fast break and one, which he actually converted. Then he flopped against Cousins and managed to draw the offensive foul. Next possession down was a block on Darren Collison that led to a Jennings three that was essentially the dagger.

Detroit remained hot from behind the three point line with 12 makes, and finished 49.5 percent from the field.

Each of the five wins in the streak have been by double digits, which is actually the third longest streak of double digit wins in franchise history.

Next up is one of the toughest stretches of the season with a road trip back-to-back starting Tuesday in San Antonio then Dallas, a home back-to-back starting Friday against the Hawks and Nets, then heading to Toronto on Monday to face the Raptors.

On the bright side, at least we'll get to watch a lot of Pistons basketball in the next week.

ROLL CALL:

Inability to contain the Pistons point guard and horrific shooting lead to a clunker in the Motor City

Its becoming really tough to watch the Sacramento Kings nowadays. The team shows some nice potential at times, but just cannot string together enough good plays consistently to win a 48 minute game. Case in point was tonight against the Detroit Pistons, where any run that the Kings could string together would often be torpedoed by some truly dumb play or lackluster effort. This is the hallmark of a team without an identity, and tonight it resulted in another letdown game by a score of 114-95.

Today, the main defensive problem was containing Brandon Jennings. Jennings got practically everywhere he wanted on the court, scoring 35 points on 14/21 shooting; he was also scorching hot from deep, burying some unguardable three point fadeaways at a 5/8 clip. Both Darren Collison and Ray McCallum had issues containing him on the perimeter, but it didn't help that the defensive effort faded from the Kings' bigs in this game, especially DeMarcus Cousins.

Offensively, the Kings just could not shoot the entire game. Pete D'Alessandro made it a goal to improve the shooting on the roster, but the fans are still waiting for the results. The team shot 42% from the field and only 20% from three point range. Ben McLemore was shut out from three point range, scoring 11 points on 11 shots. Rudy Gay just looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm the entire night; not only was his shot completely off-target, but his defense was deficient. Gay scored only 12 points on 16 shots. The only starters to get going were Jason Thompson and Darren Collison. Thompson, who reclaimed the starting PF slot to match up against the Pistons' big frontline, looked legitimately good both offensively and defensively. He scored 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds with 3 big early blocks, but was unfortunately chased from the game when the Pistons went small. Collison came alive in the third quarter, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the second half.

Off the bench, the Kings got a lift from Derrick Williams and Ray McCallum. Williams continued his recent stretch of strong play, scoring 12 points in 23 minutes. Unfortunately he only grabbed 2 rebounds on the entire night. McCallum came back to his college town to score 10 points in 19 minutes. Thats about all that needs to be said about the bench; Corbin has went with a strict 9 man rotation, and neither Nik Stauskas nor Carl Landry made any real impact on the night.

The body language from the team is speaking volumes now. Its tough to watch because there are stretches of legitimately good play, but it seems to be sabotaged by even the most minor mistakes. The Kings need something to jolt them back to life. They are playing on a knife's edge and are quick to turn in frustration at the first sign of trouble. Its unclear what the coaching staff or the front office can do at this point to save the season, but it doesn't look like the team trusts eachother. They are too quick to give up on plays, they are making too many mental mistakes, and they are not shy about showing their frustration with eachother. This is not rock bottom, but its sad to see a team going through the motions in a season that started out with so much promise. The next game is next Wednesday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently surging. If the organization cannot right the ship quick, that one could get ugly.

For the opponent's perspective, visit Detroit Bad Boys