SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento Kings are losing games, and their franchise player finds himself in the kind of headlines athletes do not want to make.It is just another typical onset to winter in Californias capitol.The Kings look to make headlines for the right reasons Tuesday night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers at the Golden 1 Center.The Kings are playing their third home game in their last 12 contests and it is the first time on their homecourt since a videotape of center DeMarcus Cousins surfaced of him hurling obscenities at a Sacramento Bee columnist, an incident that has caused a stir in and outside the team.Cousins objected to the columnist in question, Andy Furillo, referencing DeMarcus brother Jaleel in a piece about an incident at a New York City nightclub early Dec. 5 involving Cousins and teammate Matt Barnes. In the video, he can be heard shouting obscenities and threatening Furillo. That same night, he refused to speak with the media, unless Furillo was not there -- a stance he has taken with other media members this season.Coach Dave Joerger came to Cousins defense before the teams 99-79 loss at Dallas on Sunday, telling reporters there that the Bees release of the video and subsequent editorial comparing Cousins to a bully was ridiculous.This guy is the face of the franchise, Joerger said. Hes done and said some things he wishes he could do over. Hes improved; hes gotten better. But to go and use other reporters, third person, oh he bullies his coaches or he bullies, that is (trash).The incident hasnt much galvanized the Kings (10-17). The blowout loss to the team with the NBAs worst record was their seventh in 10 games. They will enter winter below .500 for the sixth time in Cousins seven seasons (the exception being when the 2011-12 lockout season started Christmas Day), and at least seven games below .500 for the fifth time.In his seven seasons, Cousins also has endured two suspensions by the league and one by the Kings, as well as a bout of viral meningitis two seasons that essentially cut short Sacramentos lone promising start in his stint.The Blazers (13-16) have not lived up to the promise forecast for them entering the campaign. They have dropped six of seven and were particularly without competitiveness in a 135-90 road loss against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.That thrashing came on the heels of a 132-120 loss at Denver on Dec. 15, a game in which Portland trailed by at least 10 points the entire second half. They are last among the NBAs 30 teams in defensive efficiency (109.6) and have been just lifeless long enough for guard Damian Lillard to tell ESPN that the Blazers lack heart.I feel like were going to be fine, guard C.J. McCollum told the Oregonian. I truly believe that.McCollum may have reason to feel confident.He scored 31 and 30 points in his past two games against Sacramento. He also became the first player in 10 seasons to record at least 35 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and five steals in a game when he put up those totals in a visit to Sacramento last December.Lillard scored 36 points as the Blazers beat the Kings 122-120 in overtime on Nov. 11 in their only other meeting this season. Nike Zoom Australia . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Nike Zoom Womens Australia . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. http://www.cheapnikezoomaustralia.com/ . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Nike Zoom Clearance . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Nike Air Zoom Australia . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman was preparing to take his usual spot in the starting lineup, only to be kept out by a bookkeeping error.Ive got to ask how that happened, Michigan coach John Beilein said. The scout coach puts in the book, and theres never been an issue with that.The lineup mistake was about the only error by the Wolverines, who rolled to a 98-49 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday. Derrick Walton scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half. Abdur-Rahkman had seven points and a career-high 10 assists.It was the first time all season that Abdur-Rahkman was out of the starting lineup, and Duncan Robinson was there in his place.I guess they mixed it up and put Duncan, Abdur-Rahkman said. I thought it was kind of funny.Abdur-Rahkman was subbed in to replace Robinson after 46 seconds.The Wolverines (9-3) jumped out to a 19-2 lead, and Michigan was shooting well over 80 percent -- both overall and from 3-point range -- after a layup by Zak Irvin made the score 35-13 with 7:33 remaining in the half.The Wolverines eventually fell off that torrid pace, but Michigan was still able to set a season high in scoring for the second consecutive game. The Wolverines beat Central Arkansas 97-53 on Tuesday night.Throughout that whole game, I kept telling the guys, `Lets go win this possession, as if it were the game-winning possession in our conference, Maryland-Eastern Shore coach Bobby Collins said. We didnt get the stops that I wish we would have gotten.Bakari Copeland led the Hawks (1-10) with 15 points.Michigan made its first seven shots from the field and led 19-2 after a 3-pointer by Walton. It was 49-22 at halftime.Robinson had 17 points for the Wolverines, and D.J. Wilson added 16 -- including a couple dunks early in the second half. Moe Wagners one-handed, breakaway dunk put Michigan up 66-31.Wagner had nine ppoints on 4-of-4 shooting, and hes 39 for 52 (75 percent) over his last seven games.ddddddddddddBIG PICTUREMaryland-Eastern Shore: The Hawks were coming off a week-long break after a loss at Central Florida last Saturday, but the time off didnt lead to a good start in this game. This was the third game of a six-game stretch away from home.Michigan: This is a much easier stretch in the Wolverines schedule after they took on the likes of Virginia Tech, Texas and UCLA earlier. None of the Michigan players went 30 minutes Saturday, and the Wolverines left no doubt about their superiority with their fast start.They shot lights out, Collins said. Thats a good team. When theyre hitting like that, I think theyre going to beat a lot of teams.UNSELFISHMichigan had a season-high 28 assists on 34 baskets.Were a close-knit team, so you always want to hit your open friend or buddy, and you want to see them make shots, Abdur-Rahkman said. I think that contributes to more assists.HIGHLIGHTThe Michigan bench loved it when walk-on Fred Wright Jones made a 3-pointer late in the game for the first points of his career. Wright-Jones was a manager and practice player last season before Beilein had him suit up for the regular-season finale. Hes played in eight games this season.UP NEXTMaryland-Eastern Shore: There wont be as much time off before the next game for the Hawks -- at American on Monday. Saturdays game began a stretch of four in six days for Maryland-Eastern Shore.Michigan: The Wolverines will be heavily favored again Thursday night at home against Furman in their final game before the start of Big Ten play.---www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '