Skip to main content
House of Houston
Fansided

Game 26: Houston Rockets At Sacramento Kings Preview

ByBrian K. Patterson|

After a horrible 114-108 loss the Houston Rockets put together last night against the Denver Nuggets, they have an opportunity to right the ship by facing the 9-15 Sacramento Kings tonight.

Let’s hope these guys will play some passionate defense but against the Kings, they won’t have to as this could be shootout as the last two meetings have been.

Whichever team shoots the ball better will likely win this game tonight.

We’ll have to see.

So who’s leading the charge for the Kings?

It’s a two-man wrecking crew!

DeMarcus Cousinsstill holds the reins in points (25.2 PPG), rebounds (10.6 RPG) and blocks (1.30 BPG).Rajon Rondo, of course, is the front-runner in assists (11.0 APG) and steals (1.90 SPG).

More fromHouse of Houston

Let’s talk about what the Kings do well.

They love the basketball in their hands.The Kingsleadthe NBA as far asPACE Factor, averaging101.9possessions per game, more than any other team.

They take care of the basketball.The Kings are7thin the league in assist ratio with17.5percent of their possessions ending with an assist as a result of Rondo’s superior facilitating skills.

They are extremely good at putting the ball in the hoop effectively.The Kings are10thin the league in effective field goal percentage, tied with the Washington Wizards at50.1.

Injuries:

This is a back-to-back game tonight and that always has us concerned aboutDwight Howard‘s minutes.He has been cleared to increase his minutes in these types of scenarios, to which he’d been at about 26 to 28 on either game that he’d play. He’ll now get to play over that and it seems as if he’s getting back to normal minutes on B2B’s.

Terrence Joneshad to exit last night’s game with an injury to his eye. Yes, another eye laceration — can you believe it? I couldn’t think such a strange injury could happen twice.He did return briefly but had to exit again as blood was getting into eyeand he couldn’t see. His availability tonight will be uncertain but he no longer has the role of essential personnel although he’s always needed. WithDonatas Motiejunasback in the fold with a vengeance albeit limited minutes,Marcus Thorntonsizzling from downtown as well asClint Capelain the starting lineup, the Rockets can take their time in bringing him along. His status hasn’t been officially announced yet but I highly doubt that he’d be available tonight but likely later in the week.

Sam Dekkerhadback surgeryand is expected to miss about a couple more months.

Rajon Rondo is healthy but as you may know,he has been suspended without pay for one game for the berating of NBA referee Bill Kennedy back Dec. 3against the Boston Celtics. Not only that but he stared the guy down way longer than he should have and directed heavy, abrasive language toward Kennedy personally attacking his sexuality eventually having to be restrained by his teammates and escorted off the court by Kings security. The Kings have been off for five days — the punishment was doled out Dec. 11 — so their next game happened to be against the Rockets. He will be OUT and likelyDarren Collisonwill get the start.

Sources: Jenny Dial Creech/Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Next: Rockets Live: A Personal Experience At Verizon Center

Three Things to Watch:

  1. Dwightvs. Boogie
  2. Whoever is healthy at PFvs.Rudy Gay
  3. D-Mo’s accentuated progression

Prediction:

115-102in aRockets’win!

The Rockets are on the road take on theKingsatSleep Train Arenain a back-to-back.

Tip-off is scheduled for9 p.m. CST.

The game will be televised onROOT Sports Southwest/NBA TVand broadcast onSportsTalk 790 AM (KBME)andLa Ranchera 850 AM (KEYH) in Spanish.

Go Rockets!

Add us as a preferred source onGoogle
Follow

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations