Kings vs. Rockets gameday: Red-hot Houston, Kevin Huerter’s injury and 3 things to watch
The struggling Kings will face one of the hottest teams in the NBA when they play host to the Houston Rockets in an NBA Cup game Tuesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings (9-12) are coming off a 127-125 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. They have lost six of seven and seven of nine to fall to 12th in the Western Conference, 2 ½ games behind the Spurs for the final play-in spot.
The Rockets (15-6) have won three in a row and 10 of 12 to move within a half-game of the No. 1 seed in the West. Jalen Green scored 41 points in Wednesday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Fred VanVleet scored 38 in Sunday’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kings guard Kevin Huerter is listed as questionable after missing Sunday’s game against the Spurs due to a right ankle sprain. Forward Trey Lyles (right calf strain) is expected to be reevaluated in two to three weeks.
The Rockets have clinched West Group A with a 3-0 record in NBA Cup pool play. The Kings have already been eliminated from the knockout round after going 0-3.
Here are three things to watch in Tuesday’s game.
3-point defense
The Kings are taking a close look at the way they defend the 3-point line after getting lit up in Sunday’s loss San Antonio.
The Spurs are shooting 35.8% from 3-point range on the season, but they went 23 of 46 (.500) against Sacramento. The Kings are 28th in the NBA in opponent’s 3-point percentage (.382).
The Rockets are 21st in 3-point attempts (35.8) and 26th in 3-point shooting (.330), but those numbers have been trending up over the past 10 games.
Houston’s balance
The Rockets have seven players scoring in double figures, led by Green, a 22-year-old guard who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
Green is averaging 18.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Alperen Sengun, a gifted 22-year-old center, averages 18.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
VanVleet (16.3 ppg, 6.2 apg), Dillon Brooks (12.6 ppg), Jabari Smith Jr. (12.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Amen Thompson (11.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Tari Eason (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) are also scoring in double figures.
Keegan Murray’s shooting
Keegan Murray shot 41.1% from long distance while making a rookie-record 205 3-point goals in 2022-23. That’s what makes this season’s shooting struggles so perplexing.
Murray is shooting career lows of 41.5% from the field and 27.4% from 3-point range. Over the past five games, the 24-year-old forward has made just 4 of 25 (.160) from beyond the arc.
Rockets at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Rockets -2.5
Over/under: 222.5
Injury report
Rockets: OUT — N’Faly Dante (G League); Cam Whitmore (G League); Nate Williams (G League).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Kevin Huerter (ankle). OUT — Devin Carter (shoulder); Isaiah Crawford (G League); Mason Jones (G League); Trey Lyles (calf).
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
