Game Preview: Kings At Washington

(AP) - Hoping their monthlong struggles are finally behind them, the Washington Wizards are looking to return to their early-season form as they prepare for the playoffs.

The resurgent Wizards will try to match their longest winning streak since early January on Saturday night while DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings look to close out an eight-game trip with a third win.

Washington, which started 19-6, fell 3 1/2 games back of a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference following a 2-11 stretch from Jan. 28-Feb. 27. The Wizards, however, have bounced back to get within two by winning four of six.

Washington improved to 17-1 when hitting at least half of its shots by shooting 51.8 percent in a 95-69 win at Charlotte on Monday and going 40 for 80 in a 107-87 home win over Memphis on Thursday.

The Wizards had shot just 40.4 percent from the field over their previous six games.

Marcin Gortat finished with 22 points and nine rebounds against a Grizzlies team resting four starters, while John Wall contributed 21 points. Wall has totaled 36 points on 15-of-22 shooting in his last two games after scoring 17 while missing 16 of 21 in the prior two.

"John, to me, the last couple games, has had more bounce," coach Randy Wittman said of his All-Star point guard.

Washington (37-28), which hasn't won three straight since Jan. 5-9, had reason to be concerned after Thursday's game. Bradley Beal was limping in the locker room but downplayed the pain in his right foot and said he wouldn't be sidelined, though he admitted to soreness and tightness.

Beal missed eight games from Feb. 7-27 due to a stress reaction in his right leg and then sat out a 91-85 loss at Milwaukee last Saturday to rest. The Wizards have won four of five when Beal plays, but they've dropped seven straight without him.

"At this point of the year, everything hurts," he said with a smile.

The Wizards also hope to have Nene, who missed Thursday's game due to personal reasons, as they take on a Sacramento team that ranks among the league's worst defensive teams. The Kings have given up 115.8 points per game while losing five of six.

The Kings fell to 2-5 on their longest trip of the season and 4-20 over their last 24 road games with Friday's 114-107 loss at Philadelphia. Cousins matched his season high of 39 points and added a career-high 24 rebounds, but Sacramento blew an 18-point second-half deficit in guaranteeing its ninth straight losing season.

The Kings (22-42) are showing some punch offensively by averaging 109.6 points over their last five. Rudy Gay, who scored 24 on Friday, is averaging 27.8 points while hitting 12 of 26 from 3-point range over that stretch.

Gay also finished with 24 points in the most recent meeting with Washington, a 117-111 overtime home win last March. Cousins scored 24 to go along with 14 rebounds as the Kings won for the fourth time in five meetings.

Gortat had 19 points and 14 boards in that contest, and he's totaled 44 points in his last two games entering this matchup.

Andre Miller faces the Wizards for the first time since being dealt to Sacramento for Ramon Sessions last month.