Game Preview: Spurs At Kings

(AP) -- Winless since the All-Star break, the San Antonio Spurs can't hide their frustration.

Looking to avoid their first five-game skid in almost four years, the Spurs' road stretch continues Friday night against a Sacramento Kings team that's shown some fight under new coach George Karl.

San Antonio (34-23) won two of three prior to the break to begin a run of nine straight road contests, but has dropped all four since.

The Spurs, 14-16 away from home, last lost five straight road games while dropping the final seven in 2012-13. They haven't lost five in a row overall since a six-game slide March 23-April 1, 2011.

"We're not used to losing like this - games that we could've and should've probably won," Tim Duncan said after scoring 20 in Wednesday's 111-95 loss at Portland. "So that in itself is bothersome, but nothing we can do about it."

San Antonio has allowed an average of 107.5 points and 48.6 percent shooting since the break, and shot 42.1 percent in the last two.

"There's always things to be concerned about," coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's not about winning or losing, it's about getting better all the time."

Popovich should be concerned with Tony Parker, who since scoring 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting in last Thursday's 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, has totaled nine while going 3 of 21 in three games.

"I can't even worry just about me," said Parker, who continues to deal with a hamstring injury. "I have to worry about the team, too. ... I just have to find a solution, even if I'm not feeling great."

Parker scored 27 and shot 10 of 17 in a 112-104 home win over a Sacramento team that played without DeMarcus Cousins on Nov. 28, and Cousins is doubtful for this meeting because of a sprained left ankle and bruised left hip.

That victory came 13 days after Cousins had 21 of his 25 points in the second half of a 94-91 home victory that ended San Antonio's nine-game winning streak in the series. Sacramento didn't make a 3-pointer in that game, one of only three instances in that NBA this season where a team failed to connect from beyond the arc.

The Kings have fired two coaches since they last saw the Spurs. Sacramento (20-35) has looked good in its two home games since Karl took over, winning both while averaging 105.5 points.

"It's just coming together, enjoy the game," Karl said. "The feeling of winning helps that."

With three days off after a 126-99 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Kings showed some tenacity Wednesday when Karl was whistled for a technical and Cousins got into a shoving match with Memphis' Zach Randolph in a 102-90 victory.

Cousins played just 25 minutes due to foul trouble but Rudy Gay had 28 points for the Kings, who held the Grizzlies to 40.5 percent shooting overall and 13 points in the fourth.

Karl, though, understands that building on that victory likely won't be easy.

"It's got to give you confidence but we've got to play a tough San Antonio team that's on a losing streak," he said. "I don't think Pop is going to rest any of his guys. He'll have a full crew out there."

That includes Kawhi Leonard, whose struggles are perhaps the biggest reason behind the Spurs' rodeo road trip to forget. After averaging 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in his first 10 games back from a right hand injury, Leonard is averaging 9.6 points and shooting 32.1 percent on this trip.

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