SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings held off a furious rally from the Houston Rockets to secure a 132-127 victory Thursday night at the Golden 1 Center.
Jalen Green and Keegan Murray set the tone early, trading baskets in the opening quarter. Green poured in 10 points, while Murray tallied eight. The Kings clung to a slim one-point lead, 30-29, heading into the second.
With Green on the bench to start the second quarter, the Kings capitalized. and stretched their lead to seven points, benefiting from sharp three-point shooting, converting seven triples compared to Houston’s three. Domantas Sabonis dominated the half with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun kept the Rockets afloat with 13 points and seven boards. At halftime, Sacramento led 61-52, as Houston struggled with a collective negative plus-minus efficiency.
The Rockets opened the third with a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to four points. However, the Kings responded, regaining a double-digit lead behind a Malik Monk three-pointer. Sacramento extended the gap to 16 points at one point, but Green broke his scoring drought, adding nine points in the quarter. The Rockets clawed back, ending the third down by just five, 90-85.
Houston came out firing in the final frame, scoring six straight points to take their first lead since the opening quarter. Both teams traded baskets, with the score knotted at 98 midway through the period. Green and Sengun returned, reigniting Houston’s attack. Sabonis and Thompson battled in the paint, both notching double-doubles.
Sacramento found momentum behind key plays from Monk, DeRozan, and Murray, building a nine-point lead with just over four minutes left. However, Houston’s defensive intensity forced turnovers, and Dillon Brooks drained back-to-back threes to cut the lead to one with 2:38 remaining.
Sacramento regained a slim edge after a clutch Malik Monk and-one play, giving them a five-point cushion with two minutes left. Houston responded with a three-pointer from Tari Eason off a Green assist, closing the gap to one. A costly technical foul by Brooks gave Sacramento a free throw and possession, allowing them to extend their lead.
Despite Jalen Green’s late heroics, including a coast-to-coast layup and a quick three-pointer, the Kings sealed the game at the free-throw line. Green’s potential game-tying three-point attempt missed, and Sacramento iced the contest with two final free throws.
TOP PERFORMERS
-Domantas Sabonis (double-double, 23 points, 14 rebounds), Malik Monk (21 points), and Keegan Murray (19 points).
– **Houston Rockets:** Jalen Green (27 points), Alperen Sengun (19 points, 12 rebounds), and Dillon Brooks (17 points).
