--G Gerald Green said he was sorry to see teammate and friend Josh Howard go down with an injury, but he knows that one man's injury is another man's opportunity.

Green has been out of the rotation for more than a month. He got the early nod Sunday and scored seven points in a five-minute stretch of the first quarter while making three of his first four shots.

He missed four of five after that and finished with nine points in 13:32.

"I've just got to be ready to play," Green said. "Even though somebody's hurt -- I hate to see that because my boy got hurt -- but I've always stayed ready like I'm going to play every game. That's the way I've got to be. I've honestly got to keep my mind focused at all times."

--G Jason Kidd is running hot and cold to the extremes. After a 3-of-16 stretch for nine points in three games, he went 12-of-24 for 31 points in the two prior to Sunday night's matchup at Sacramento.

The pendulum swung the other way against the Kings. He made 1-of-9 shots and missed all five three-point attempts. He finished with four points, seven assists and four turnovers.

--C Erick Dampier knows there aren't many set plays coming his way so he has to take advantage of what he can when he can get them.

In the past six games, Dampier is 18-of-19 from the field and 9-for-9 in his last three games, going 3-for-3 in each.

He hasn't missed since going 3-for-4 last Tuesday against the Clippers.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G-F Jerry Stackhouse (right heel) is out indefinitely.

--F Josh Howard will miss Tuesday's game at Denver after bracing himself from an awkward fall and spraining his left wrist. Howard missed two games in November with a similar injury.