The Sacramento Kings returned home after a 2-2 road trip to start a five-game homestand, starting with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Kings guard Tyreke Evans would check in for the first time since Dec. 16, but his return would be anything but triumphant.
John Salmons continued his hot streak with 10 points on 80 percent for the Kings in the first quarter. Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington pitched in for Memphis by combined for 13 points off the bench to give their team a boost early in the second quarter.
Trailing 51-45 at the half, the Kings had no answer to the Grizzlies offense. Memphis went on a 20-4 en route to 36 points in the third quarter, where Sacramento made only five shots. To put the cherry on top for the Grizzlies, Ellington drained three of his six three-pointers in the final quarter as the Kings started began homestand with a 113-81 loss.
Salmons finished with 17 points and DeMarcus Cousins finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Evans scored five points in 12 minutes of play and Thomas Robinson had eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
Ellington finished with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting for the Grizzlies and Zach Randolph added 17 points and seven rebounds.
Kings coach Keith Smart credited Memphis' bench as a key to their success.
"Memphis came in and set the tone. I thought we gave a good effort in the first quarter, but after that it started to go downhill pretty quick. Sometimes, these games happen that way. We did a good job with their starting five but most back-to-back games your bench carries you."
The Kings will have three days to regroup before they host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night at 7 p.m. PST.
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