Starting Line-ups
Kings
- Beno Udrih
- Tyreke Evans
- Donté Greene
- Darnell Jackson
- DeMarcus Cousins
Reserves: Luther Head, Francisco Garcia, Samuel Dalembert, Carl Landry, Omri Casspi, Jermaine Taylor, Pooh Jeter.
Inactives: Jason Thompson (injured right hand) out.
Rockets
- Kyle Lowry
- Kevin Martin
- Shane Battier
- Luis Scola
- Chuck Hayes
Reserves: Terrance Williams, Brad Miller, Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Aaron Brooks, Jarred Jeffries.
First Quarter Recap
The Kings started the game in grand fashion, stealing a post entry pass on the defensive end and following it up with a three pointer by Tyreke Evans on offense. Although the Kings started hot, hitting two early three’s, the Rockets’ Kevin Martin came out even hotter. The former King lit up his old teammates for 12 first quarter points. The Kings received balanced scoring from almost every player that came in the game. DeMarcus Cousins was forced to come out of the game when he caught a knee to the thigh, but he returned to the game before the quarter was out. After 12 minutes of play, the Kings looked good against the Houston Rockets, taking a five point lead into the second.
Kings 31 Rockets 26
Leaders
Kings- Udrih (6) Points; Cousins/Jackson (3) Rebounds; four players tied (1) Assist.
Rockets- Martin (12) Points; Scola/Hayes (4) Rebounds; Lowry (5) Assists.
Second Quarter Recap
The second quarter became a slug fest. The lead went back and forth multiple times. The Kings, who had zero first quarter turnovers, gave it up three times in about two minutes of play in the middle of the second. In his first start of the season, Darnell Jackson impressed with eight points and four rebounds. In the second, the Kings figured out a way to slow Kevin Martin, holding him to zero points in the quarter. In what is typically their worst quarter, the Kings played strong and finished with their five point lead intact.
Kings 57 Rockets 52
Leaders
Kings- Cousins/Garcia (9) Points; Jackson (4) Rebounds; Udrih/Evans (4) Assists.
Rockets- Martin (12) Points; Hayes (10) Rebounds; Lowry (6) Assists.
Team Kings Rockets
FG% 38.9% 45.2%
Rebounds 21 28
Assists/TO 12/3 14/11
Third Quarter Recap
The Kings began the third quarter hot, stretching the lead to ten before the Rockets could even pull their warm-ups off. Rookie DeMarcus Cousins began to dominate early in the third. Kevin Martin returned to his scoring ways in the third and Luis Scola stayed right with to pace the Rockets. Francisco Garcia who has struggled mightily over the last month, scoring in double figures just once in the Kings last 15 games, came out hot in the third. The veteran swing man scored five in the quarter to push his total to 14 for the game. At the end of three quarters, the Kings led, but only by two in a very hard fought contest.
Kings 81 Rockets 79
Leaders
Kings- Cousins (15) Points; Cousins/Evans (5) Rebounds; Udrih (7) Assists.
Rockets- Martin (19) Points; Hayes (11) Rebounds; Lowry (6) Assists.
Fourth Quarter Recap
The Kings figured out how to get the spotty crowd going in the fourth. The Kings fed the big man down the stretch and DMC responded by getting it going in the paint. With the game on the line, the Kings needed to find some rhythm on offense and they needed someone to hit a big shot. They never got it and lost in a disaster.
Kings lose.
Kings 93 Rockets 102
Leaders
Kings- Cousins (19) Points; Cousins (8) Rebounds; Udrih (7) Assists.
Rockets- Martin (22) Points; Hayes (11) Rebounds; Lowry (7) Assists.
Team Kings Rockets
FG% 38.5% 44.6%
Rebounds 38 50
Assists/TO 18/13 28/20
Player of the Game: Kevin Martin could have won for his game leading 22 points and dagger of a floater/and-one shot in the fourth, but Luis Scola and his 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists takes home the trophy. Scola doesn’t do anything pretty except hit his flat footed set shot with deadly accuracy. The Argentinian big man killed the Kings with his timely shooting and rebounding, and even threw in two blocks to boot.
The Difference Maker: DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings rookie gave the Rockets fits on the inside, scoring 19 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking four shots. Cousins was incredibly active and kept the Kings in the game for much of the night. Since returning to the starting line-up eight games ago, Cousins has averaged 14.5 points 8.4 rebounds one block and almost two assists per game.
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