The Houston Rockets showcased their resilience on Wednesday night, building a commanding 77-50 lead at halftime against the Sacramento Kings. However, those familiar with the unpredictable nature of Rockets basketball understood that the game was far from sealed. As the Kings surged out of the locker room with a 13-2 run, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka wisely called a timeout just minutes into the third quarter to recalibrate.
Udoka has had a front-row seat to the team’s familiar rollercoaster performances, and he effectively managed the lineup to prevent the offense from stagnating. The trio of Alperen Sengun, who posted a impressive 26-point triple-double, Kevin Durant with 21 points shooting 62 percent from the field, and Reed Sheppard, who scored 28 points and hit 43 percent of his three-pointers, led the charge for the Rockets. Additionally, Josh Okogie’s contributions were crucial, as he efficiently shot 5-of-7, including three from beyond the arc.
With Amen Thompson sidelined due to a quad injury, Aaron Holiday stepped up, not only scoring but also facilitating the offense, ensuring that ball movement remained fluid. Jabari Smith also added to the team’s efforts with 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while veteran Jeff Green contributed 5 points off the bench.
Overall, this win marked a collective effort in a game against a struggling Kings squad. Given the Rockets’ recent challenges in closing out games against teams they should beat, this victory brings a hopeful sign that they are turning a corner. Rocket fans will undoubtedly be optimistic that this performance signals a newfound consistency in winning against lesser opponents.