Kings Challenge Rockets Amid Seven-Game Losing Streak

The Sacramento Kings are set to face the Houston Rockets amid a disappointing seven-game losing streak. The matchup will take place in Sacramento on Sunday at 9 p.m. EST. Currently, the Kings hold a record of 8-30, placing them last in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Rockets, with a record of 22-13, sit in sixth place.

Kings’ Struggles and Rocket’s Strengths

The Kings have struggled significantly against Western Conference rivals, with a 6-24 record against them. They also have a poor performance against teams with winning records, managing only 7 wins out of 28 games.

On the other hand, the Rockets are finding success through their rebounding. They lead the Western Conference with an average of 16.4 offensive rebounds per game, boasting Steven Adams as their standout player with 4.5 rebounds per game.

Shooting Statistics

In terms of shooting, the Kings average 10.4 made three-pointers per game. This is 2.3 fewer than the Rockets allow, with Houston’s opponents making an average of 12.7 three-pointers per game. The Rockets have a shooting percentage of 48.3%, slightly lower than the 49.6% opponents of the Kings have achieved this season.

Previous Matchups

This will mark the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Kings narrowly edged the last matchup, winning 125-124 in overtime on December 22. DeMar DeRozan was a key player in that game, scoring 27 points.

Top Performers

• Russell Westbrook (Kings): 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists
• DeMar DeRozan (Kings): 19.7 points over the last 10 games
• Kevin Durant (Rockets): 26.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Amen Thompson (Rockets): 20.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 56.5% shooting over the last 10 games

Recent Game Performance

In their last 10 games, the Kings have a record of 2-8. They average 106.3 points, 41.1 rebounds, and 24.1 assists while shooting 44.7% from the field. Conversely, the Rockets are 5-5 in their last 10 games, averaging 112.5 points and 49.8 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 47.3%.

Injury Updates

• Kings: Keegan Murray (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee) – both out
• Rockets: Isaiah Crawford (illness), Fred VanVleet (ACL, out for season), Alperen Sengun (ankle) – all out

As both teams prepare for this matchup, the Rockets look to capitalize on Sacramento’s recent struggles while the Kings aim to break their losing streak.