The Sacramento Kings faced a tough defeat in their recent matchup against the Houston Rockets, losing 121-95 on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center. Despite holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Kings faltered in the second half, allowing the Rockets to explode with a dominant 36-19 advantage in the third quarter, capped off by a staggering 30-8 run in the final minutes.
Amidst the defeat, rookie center Maxime Raynaud stood out, delivering a career-high 25 points along with six rebounds and three assists off the bench. His performance is particularly noteworthy as he had just set his previous high of 19 points days earlier against the Utah Jazz, and also contributed significantly against the Memphis Grizzlies.
King’s head coach Doug Christie hinted at potential changes to the starting lineup following the loss, stating, “Absolutely. It’s a definite, definite thought. I thought about (doing) it tonight. … I definitely consider it. Going forward, everything’s on the table.” This comes as the team continues to navigate challenges, particularly with star player Domantas Sabonis sidelined due to a partially torn left meniscus.
Despite Raynaud’s performance, Sacramento struggled against Houston’s formidable frontcourt, particularly with Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun dominating the paint, leading to a rebounding deficit of 62-32 and outscoring the Kings in the paint 78-46. Malik Monk also contributed by scoring 25 points, with 14 coming during a late push in the fourth quarter. However, the Kings’ top scorers, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, had disappointing outings. LaVine scored only two points and was limited to just over five minutes of play in the second half, while DeRozan’s 12 points were all logged before halftime.
The Kings’ offensive struggles were compounded by turnovers and poor spacing, with the team ranking last in the NBA for made three-pointers and leading in mid-range attempts per game. As Sabonis’s return is still uncertain, Coach Christie might consider integrating Raynaud into the starting unit to enhance the team’s scoring and floor spacing.
As Sacramento now faces its fourth consecutive defeat, dropping their record to 5-17, they look forward to two upcoming games on the road against the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers, before returning home to take on the Denver Nuggets on December 11. The hope for fans remains that strategic adjustments and a renewed focus could turn the tide for the Kings in the coming matches.