The Sacramento Kings earned their first victory of the season Sunday night, holding off the Houston Rockets 111-98 at Golden 1 Center behind a balanced effort and a historic milestone from DeMar DeRozan.
Sacramento improved to 9-30 by closing the game with timely perimeter shooting and defensive stops after three tightly contested quarters.
DeRozan scored 22 points and became the 23rd player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points, reaching the mark midway through the second quarter.
The veteran forward was efficient throughout the night, finishing 8-of-13 from the field while also adding six assists to keep Houston’s defense rotating.
Zach LaVine contributed 18 points, while Russell Westbrook posted a triple-impact line with 15 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds as the Kings consistently generated quality looks.
Malik Monk added 15 points off the bench and played a decisive role late, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to create separation.
Sacramento entered the final period clinging to a 78-76 lead, with neither team holding an advantage larger than five points through three quarters.
The Rockets stayed within striking distance behind Amen Thompson, who delivered a dominant performance with 31 points and 13 rebounds.
Thompson scored 18 of his points in the third quarter alone, shooting 7-of-9 from the field as Houston briefly seized momentum.
Kevin Durant added 23 points for the Rockets, while Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, but Houston struggled to convert key possessions late.
The Kings broke the game open with a decisive 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, highlighted by Monk’s perimeter shooting and a Precious Achiuwa layup that pushed the lead to 102-92.
Sacramento limited Houston to 23 percent shooting from three-point range and forced the Rockets into difficult half-court possessions down the stretch.
Westbrook’s playmaking helped the Kings finish with 25 assists, allowing them to control tempo despite modest shooting numbers from deep.
The victory came with Sacramento shorthanded, as guard Dennis Schroder served the first game of a three-game suspension stemming from a postgame confrontation in late December.
Houston fell to 22-14 and has now lost four of its last five games after a strong start to the season.
The Rockets also struggled at the free-throw line, leaving points available in a game that remained close until the final six minutes.
Up next, Houston travels to Chicago on Tuesday night, while the Kings remain home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
