Live from the locker room: Kings vs. Pistons

Here is the latest news live from Sleep Train Arena:

• The Sacramento Kings (11-12) will once again be without the services of Omri Casspi.  Casspi was listed as probable for tonight’s match up, but following his warm up, the 26-year-old forward told Cowbell Kingdom that he was a no-go.  “I don’t know, it’s still hurting,” Casspi said from his locker stall.  “We did an MRI the other day (to) try and see how it is.  There’s inflammation underneath the bone.  Every time I try to push off or start running, it hurts like a knife.”

• DeMarcus Cousins continues to miss time due to viral meningitis.  The Kings’ star center is back with the team, but his return to the court is still in question.  “Everyday he comes in I think he looks a little bit better as we try to get him into basketball shape and condition,” coach Michael Malone said.  “Just to see him on the court, feeling better, getting healthy, getting in a sweat and hopefully taking positive strides to get him back on the floor for use, is encouraging and a very welcome sight.”

•  The Detroit Pistons (4-19) are coming off a 105-103 win in Phoenix last night over the Suns, but coach Stan Van Gundy is mixing up his lineup once again.  After starting Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond in Phoenix, Kyle Singler will start on the front line with Smith and Drummond against the Kings.  “I thought the big lineup against P.J. Tucker made sense, it would make sense tonight against Rudy Gay, I just didn’t like and haven’t liked the way those guys get up and down the floor,” Van Gundy said.

• Tonight’s game pits father against son.  Brendan Malone is on Van Gundy’s coaching staff after spending last summer in Sacramento under his son Michael.  “When you’re coaching against another coach, you’re not even looking at the other bench, you’re looking at the teams on the floor,” Brendan Malone said.  “I’ve watched him and I’ve watched him progress as a coach and I like what I see.  In my brief period when I did coach with him, I was very much impressed with him – his command, his knowledge, his work ethic.  He has all the requisite to be an outstanding coach.”