Domantas Sabonis delivered a stellar 27-point performance to help the Sacramento Kings (10-12) defeat the Houston Rockets (15-7) 120-111 on Tuesday night, securing the Kings’ lone win in four NBA Cup games.
The victory prevented Houston from clinching the top seed in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. After trailing by eight points late in the second quarter, Sacramento ignited a 15-shot streak to take control of the game. This shooting surge turned the deficit into a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter.
De’Aaron Fox added 22 points for the Kings, while Malik Monk contributed 17 points and set a career-high with 12 assists. DeMar DeRozan also chipped in with 16 points in the victory.
Sacramento’s shooting prowess was a key factor, especially as the team shot 14-for-30 from three-point range. This marked a significant improvement, as the Kings had struggled with their perimeter shooting in previous games.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points, and Alperen Sengun added 24 points in the losing effort. Despite shooting just 35.9% from three, Houston had a strong showing early but couldn’t keep up with Sacramento’s offensive firepower.
The game’s intensity boiled over in the second quarter after a hard foul by Fox on Jabari Smith Jr. That moment sparked a series of technical fouls, with Fox and Smith receiving one each, along with Dillon Brooks for Houston.
Sacramento’s dominance on offense came at the expense of the Rockets’ defense. Despite entering the game with three straight wins, Houston couldn’t execute under pressure. The Rockets were also hindered by the ejections of coach Ime Udoka and Sengun late in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets were without the services of key players Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks at their best, as both struggled with their shooting. VanVleet finished with 13 points on 6-of-17 shooting, while Brooks added eight points on 3-of-6 shooting. Houston’s issues were compounded by a poor 3-point shooting performance, finishing at just 35.9% from beyond the arc.
