(Sports Network) - A pair of teams aiming to stop rather lengthy losing streaks meet in California's capital Wednesday when the Sacramento Kings host the New York Knicks at ARCO Arena.
The Kings dropped the opener of a four-game homestand on Sunday against Detroit, their fifth straight setback overall. Rodney Stuckey finished with 17 points and seven assists in that one as the Pistons edged Sacramento, 100-94.
Tyreke Evans had 20 points to pace the Kings, who will also face New Jersey and New Orleans on their current residency. Carl Landry ended with 19 points and eight boards.
The Knicks, meanwhile, lost their sixth straight on Tuesday in the opener of a four-game road trip, a 120-118 heartbreaker at the hands of Denver. Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds in that one.
Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and six rebounds for the Knicks, who will also visit Golden State and the LA Clippers on their trek. Wilson Chandler tallied 23 points while Landry Fields and Danilo Gallinari each finished with 21 points. Fields and Gallinari also pulled down 17 and 10 rebounds, respectively, in defeat.
"We just missed too many foul shots in the second half to get it all the way home," Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said after the loss. "But the effort was good ... I thought our players played hard."
Sacramento swept the home-and-home season series between the two clubs a year ago thanks in large part to Evans, who flirted with triple-doubles in both contests. The reigning Rookie of the Year tallied 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists during a 111-97 win in Sacramento, and finished with 27 points, 10 boards and seven helpers in a Kings overtime victory at Madison Square Garden.
"We're looking forward to a game," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "We know we've lost five in a row, we hate it. We are anxious to go play."