Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) takes a shot over the Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) in the second half at the Toyota Center in Houston on Wed Dec 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was more of the same for the Sacramento Kings (5-17) as they lost to the Houston Rockets (14-5) Wednesday night 121-95. The Kings are able to keep pace with opponents but fall prey to them in the second half. They have led some very good teams deep into the fourth quarter of games but have relinquished those leads losing those matchups.

They have been unable to close out fourth quarters for most of the season and this game was no exception in fact losing this one mid-way through the third quarter. The Rockets really got going in the second half with Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson all scoring in the twenties with Sengun the game high with 28 points.

The high for the Kings were shared by two bench players; Malik Monk and Maxine Ranaud each with 25 points. They were a bright spot in a disappointing loss, their fourth in a row.

Game recap: The Rockets finished the opening quarter on top but only by a couple of points 28-26. The Kings were keeping pace with Houston throughout the first quarter. The quarter got underway with a couple of Russell Westbrook turnovers in the first minute of play, not a great start for the team.

The quarter was littered with some poor play finishing the quarter with three turnovers, fouls, and three steals. Despite the less than stellar play the team was very much in the game going into the second quarter.

It was Maxine Raynaud who helped keep the team within striking distance hitting a couple of three’s along with three additional baskets which included a one-foot layup, and a driving layup.

The Kings took the lead at times throughout the second quarter and went into the locker room at the half with a 52-51 lead. After a bit of a rocky start DeMar DeRozan hit five baskets in the second quarter.

He finished the first half with 12 points and bench player Maxine Raynaud had the team high for the half finishing with 14 points. Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine both had quiet quarters, each of them scoring two points apiece.

The Kings finished the half with nine turnovers, the Rockets with 11. Despite the nine turnovers, the Kings only conceded two points off those turnovers. The largest lead for each team was five points apiece in this hotly contested game. Going into the third quarter it was anyone’s game.

The Rockets had three players in double figures as the third quarter got underway. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson had a very good first half of basketball. The game see-sawed throughout the first half of the third quarter but then the game took a turn.

The Rockets got their largest lead of the game 71-64 at 4:57 in the quarter. Although quiet offensively, Keegan Murray had contributed grabbing nine rebounds so far in the game. As the third quarter wound down, the Rockets really got going extending their lead and taking a double digit advantage 78-68 with 2:30 left on the clock.

Houston took their double digit lead into the fourth quarter now leading 87-71 and the Kings had a real challenge facing them. Houston had squashed the Kings in the third outscoring them 36-19.

Sacramento had hung with the Rockets through the first half of the third quarter but let it all slip away as this game went into the fourth quarter. They were unable to sustain the effort that they had in the opening minutes of the third quarter and the Rockets were waltzing away with this game. By 7:32 in the fourth quarter Houston had established a 100-77 lead. The final was 121-95 and Sacramento had lost a fourth game in a row.

The first half of this game was very competitive, the second half not so much in fact mid-way through the third quarter the writing was on the wall. The Rockets turned the game into high gear and Sacramento was unable to stop them.

The bright spot for the Kings was a terrific showing on the Sacramento bench. Malik Monk and Maxine Raynaud each shot for 25 points in fact it was Raynaud that kept the Kings in the game in the first half. The high for the Sacramento starters was also shared with Russsell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan each shooting for 12 points.

Game notes: The Kings extended their losing streak to three games, the Kings took on the Rockets Wednesday evening and beat 121-95. Houston is currently tied for third place in the Western Conference. The game took place at Toyota Center in Houston.

The Kings have of late pulled a couple of upsets back to back against the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sacramento couldn’t pull out a win against a Western Conference elite team. The Kings have struggled defensively and remain without big man Domantas Sabonis as well as Dennis Schroeder who is dealing with a hip issue. Sabonis will be evaluated in another week or two. The loss was the 12th out of their last 14 games.

Next up for the Kings will be the Miami Heat on Saturday December 6th with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 PM.