Lakers-Kings Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON

(AP) -- The return of DeMarcus Cousins wasn't enough to lift the Sacramento Kings out of their slump, which now consists of a season-high five consecutive defeats.

That slide began when Kobe Bryant pushed the Los Angeles Lakers past a Cousins-less Kings team earlier this month, and the superstar will be seeking to bounce back from one of the worst offensive performances of his career in Sunday night's rematch.

Cousins had a team-leading 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting with 11 rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes Thursday, returning from a 10-game absence due to viral meningitis. However, he missed a jumper at the buzzer as the Kings fell 108-107 to Milwaukee for their 10th loss in 12 games.

"I'm not at the level I was before, but I was able to play through. I know for a fact that I will get back to that level, but it's going to take some games," said Cousins, averaging career highs of 23.7 points and 12.5 boards.

Sacramento (11-15), which went 2-8 without Cousins, dropped to 0-2 under interim coach Tyrone Corbin, who took over after Michael Malone's firing Monday.

"We've got to get everybody on the same page," said Corbin, who is trying to run a more up-tempo style. "It's been a tough week for the guys, and it's been a tough week for everybody. The only way we're going to get through this thing is if we get our mind clear, just come in and play, and make sure we're planning to be as good as we can be now."

The Kings' current five-game skid began with a 98-95 road loss to the Lakers on Dec. 9, when Bryant had nine of his 32 points in the final 3:15 as well as three assists during Los Angeles' fourth-quarter rally from a seven-point deficit.

Bryant shot only 11 for 27 that night but has been even worse in four games since, hitting 30.1 percent from the field. He missed 12 of 15 on Friday as he was held to nine points - nearly 16 below his season average - in a 104-103 home loss to Oklahoma City. It matched his lowest point total of the season and marked the 10th time of his 19-year career that he failed to score in double figures despite playing at least 30 minutes.

"I didn't have my legs tonight," said Bryant, shooting a career-low 37.7 percent. "It was pretty frustrating. I've got to figure it out. It's kind of hit-and-miss. Some games it's there, and some games it's not. I've just got to keep trying different things to get the proper rest."

Bryant now plays his first game in Sacramento since March 30, 2013. His 32.7-point average in his last 15 contests there is his second-highest at any Western Conference venue in the last 10 seasons.

The Lakers (8-18) have won six of the past seven matchups overall even though Bryant missed five of them. Cousins sat out three of those games.

Rudy Gay has averaged 28.7 points in three meetings since joining the Kings, who have lost four straight at home.

Los Angeles has dropped its last two games after winning a season-high three in a row.