The 76ers will try to rebound from their second-half collapse when they return home Monday to take on the Kings, who are looking to close their season-opening four-game trip with their first victory.

After a loss in its home opener, Philadelphia (1-2) routed New York by 29 points on Friday, and carried that momentum into the first half Saturday at Atlanta.

Philadelphia led by as many as 23 points midway through the second quarter against the Hawks, and had a nine-point lead with nine minutes to play. But Atlanta went on a 24-8 run to close the game, dealing the 76ers a 95-88 defeat.

"This is a disappointing loss, no question about it, and not because we were up 23 in the first half," Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. "It's more about how we finished the game which was real disappointing."

The Kings (0-3), meanwhile, lost by two in Minnesota in their season opener, but haven't been close in their past two contests. Sacramento trailed by as many as 38 on Friday in a 103-77 loss at Miami, then fell 121-103 at Orlando the next night.

Despite the 18-point loss to the Magic, Kings coach Reggie Theus saw some positive signs. Sacramento shot 52.7 percent from the field, and shooting guard Kevin Martin, held to just 13.0 points per game on 25.9 percent shooting in his first two games, was 11-for-20 for 31 points in Orlando.

"I thought we had a much better effort tonight," Theus said. "I thought Kevin did a good job of letting the game come to him and at the same time being aggressive about getting the ball inside. The focus and energy were there and that's what I was looking for."

Aside from Martin, the Kings have a quality second option familiar to the Sixers. John Salmons, who grew up in Philadelphia and spent his first four years with the Sixers, is averaging 16.7 points in his first three games.

The Kings' biggest problem is a lack of experience in the paint with veteran Brad Miller serving a five-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Second-year center Spencer Hawes and rookie Jason Thompson lead Sacramento's big men in minutes, and with that young duo, the Kings are giving up 46.7 ppg in the paint, third worst in the league.

They'll get a big test inside from the Sixers, who are fifth in the league in points in the paint, averaging 45.3. Philadelphia's biggest force inside, offseason acquisition Elton Brand, has certainly lived up to his five-year, $82 million contract thus far. Brand is averaging 18.3 points and 14.3 rebounds.

Led by Brand and center Samuel Dalembert (12.0 rpg), the Sixers are averaging a league-best 55.0 rebounds.

Brand, who spent his past seven seasons in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Clippers, is certainly a familiar face to Sacramento. Yet despite averaging 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds in his career against the Kings, Brand's teams are 4-24.

The teams split two meetings last season, with each winning on the other's home court.