3 THINGS TO LOOK FOR

2. I fully expect the Kings to be amped up for this match after what happened last time, but the Grizzlies are a veteran team and should be expecting that. The Kings got the jump on Memphis last time, dropping 38 points in the first quarter and then pushing their lead all the way to 26 points. Coach Joerger is going to remind these guys about that and I think we'll see a Grizzlies team determined not to fall behind early and instead put Sacramento on the defensive.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME

The impetus behind Memphis' hot start has been the continued growth of Marc Gasol. Gasol is not just a defensive force anymore, he's turned into a formidable scorer. His scoring has jumped from 14.6 points per game last year to a career-high 20.2 points per game this year, and that's in addition to his continued excellent passing ability. In a sense, it's the opposite for Cousins, who has shown huge improvement on defense. This will be a battle of the big men, and whichever player gets the best of the other, that team has a much higher chance of winning.

PREGAME LIMERICK

There once was a clock set at 0.3,
which was too much time for Courtney Lee.
He got the hoop
with a quick scoop,
and the opinion of a blind referee.

PREDICTION