Dennis Schroder #17 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the game winning three point basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 21, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California (Mandatory Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — The Houston Rockets came to Sacramento on Sunday to take on the Kings at 7 p.m. PST inside Golden 1 Center. It was a rare Sunday night start for the Kings, who were on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, 98–93. On Sunday, the Kings battled back to win a gritty overtime thriller, 125–124.

In the first quarter, the Kings and Rockets traded baskets in what was a competitive 12 minutes of basketball. The Kings jumped out early on the Rockets as they started the game firing on the offensive side of the ball — something we don’t normally see from the Kings. However, Alperen Şengün led the Rockets back later in the quarter as Houston outscored the Kings 31–30. Şengün led the Rockets with six points, and Keegan Murray led all scorers in the first quarter with 10 points. The Kings’ shooting woes appeared to continue from Saturday into Sunday, and they looked to snap them in the second quarter.

In the second quarter, it was all Rockets as the Kings tried to stay in the game. The Rockets outscored the Kings 37–27 in the second quarter to build an 11-point lead, 68–57, going into halftime. Şengün continued to pressure the Kings’ interior defense as he was getting whatever he wanted against Maxime Raynaud in the paint. The Kings continued to struggle from deep, shooting 28 percent, but their overall field-goal percentage was respectable at 50 percent in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, the Kings finally made a small dent in the Rockets’ lead. The Kings outscored the Rockets for the first time in the game, 25–23, in the third quarter as the Kings’ defense turned up the intensity. Still, the Kings would need a huge fourth quarter to have a chance against the Rockets as they entered the fourth down 91–82.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings played one of their better quarters in the last few weeks. The Kings outscored the Rockets 30–21 as they continued the defensive pressure, and Keegan Murray went on a heater on the offensive side of the ball. Murray scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, but it was Russell Westbrook who was the hero for the Kings. As time in the fourth quarter was winding down, Westbrook hit a three from the corner opposite the Kings’ bench to tie the game at 113. The Kings would go to overtime as they looked to defeat the Rockets.

In overtime, the Kings outscored the Rockets 13–12 and defeated Houston by the final score of 125–124. Dennis Schröder was the hero for the Kings as he hit a corner three with 2.2 seconds to go in the game to put the Kings up 125–124. The Rockets drew up a play for Kevin Durant to end the game, but he missed the shot from the elbow as time expired.

It was a big win for the Kings, who hadn’t won a game at home since November 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Kings were led by Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan, who had 26 and 27 points, respectively, in the game.

After the game, Doug Christie was happy with the effort and style the Kings have been playing with in their last three games.

“I really think that our last three games have been very targeted towards what we want and how we want to play… there’s a competitiveness that is a must. It’s an absolute must to even compete in our league. So we have to find that.”

Up next, the Kings will stay home to take on the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at 7 p.m. PST.