Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) takes a shot over the Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Wed Dec 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Tuesday night, hosting the Houston Rockets at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings last played on Sunday, falling to the San Antonio Spurs 127-125 at home. Heading into the game, the Kings were in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 9-12 record, while the Rockets held the second spot in the West with a 15-6 record. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Rockets on Tuesday 120-111 to improve to 10-12 on the season.

In the first quarter, the Kings delivered an underwhelming performance, being outscored by the Rockets 28-21. The Kings lacked the urgency needed, allowing Houston to take advantage. Domantas Sabonis showed early aggression, which was a positive sign, but the question remained whether it would lead to sustained scoring. Jalen Green sparked the Rockets with nine points in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings fell behind by double digits early. However, De’Aaron Fox led a rally, scoring 10 points in the period to bring the Kings closer. The Kings outscored the Rockets 33-27 in the quarter, cutting the deficit to 55-54 at halftime. Jalen Green led all scorers at the half with 16 points.

The third quarter belonged to the Kings. Their offense exploded for 42 points, while their defense limited the Rockets to 29 points. The Kings’ intensity after halftime was evident. The big question was whether they could maintain it to close out the game, something they had struggled with all season. Through three quarters, Jalen Green had 26 points for the Rockets, while Sabonis and Fox each tallied 20 for the Kings.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings sustained their energy to secure the victory. The game ended with some drama, as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Alperen Şengün were ejected with only a few minutes remaining. The matchup had been physical throughout, but the two couldn’t keep their emotions in check. Jalen Green had a quiet final quarter but finished as the game’s top scorer with 28 points. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points in the win.

Up Next: The Sacramento Kings will travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies on Thursday at 5 PM PST. The Grizzlies, currently third in the Western Conference, will provide a tough challenge for the Kings.