Kings Vs Rockets: kings vs rockets recap — Rockets 128, Kings 97
The Houston Rockets closed the door early and routed the Sacramento Kings, 128-97, in a game described simply as a blowout. The kings vs rockets matchup on Wednesday night featured a 77-50 Rockets lead at halftime and ended with a dominant second-half finish.
Kings Vs Rockets final score
Houston led 77-50 at the half and finished with a 128-97 victory. When the Rockets took that 77-50 lead into the half, some observers thought, "It's over. " The Kings briefly flashed life with a 13-2 run to open the second half, prompting coach Ime Udoka to call a timeout a few minutes into the quarter, but the Rockets recovered and pulled away.
Sheppard’s shooting outburst
Reed Sheppard tallied a game-high 28 points. He made seven triples on 16 attempts from beyond the arc, and one account in the game notes lists his three-point percentage at 43 percent. Ime Udoka described what went right for Sheppard: "Aggressiveness, hunting his shots. The fact that he got 12 [shots] up in the first half tells you all you need to know, " Udoka said. Thompson's absence opened a starting spot for Sheppard; with VanVleet lost for the season to a torn ACL prior to the start of the season, Sheppard has been thrust into action and has had ups and downs as a young guard.
Sengun, Durant lead attack
Alperen Sengun scored 26 points and recorded a triple-double in the victory, marking his third triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 21 points on 62 percent shooting. The two veterans, along with Sheppard, powered the Rockets offensively in what was called a complete team victory over a bad Sacramento Kings team.
Bench contributions and injuries
Amen Thompson missed the game with an apparent quad injury. Aaron Holiday received minutes in Thompson's stead; Holiday not only shot well but provided another ball handler who helped keep ball movement crisp. Josh Okogie shot an efficient 5-of-7 from the field, including three made triples. Jabari Smith finished with 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting and "Uncle Jeff" Green chipped in 5 points off the bench.
Game flow and late issues
Udoka said he adjusted his rotation when the Kings threatened and kept the offense from becoming stagnant. The main rotation was able to rest in the fourth quarter as Houston prepared for the second game of a back-to-back, this time on the road in Orlando — the team is scheduled to be back in action tomorrow at Orlando at 6pm. Turnovers and poor execution cost the Rockets late. Against hornets, generally. Some are good, they say. Rockets biggest bugaboo comes back to bite them and causes them to head into the break with a loss. Rockets take the 1st of the Clips double-dip.
Context and statistical notes
Sheppard has produced in the games he has started: in seven starts he has averaged 15. 9 points, 3. 7 rebounds, and 4. 9 assists, along with 2. 1 steals per game. VanVleet's season-ending torn ACL prior to the start of the season has altered the team’s backcourt plans and contributed to Sheppard's increased role. The Rockets had lost four of the last 7 home games before this win; earning a home victory was a welcome sight for the roster and the fans.
In the end, a win is a win. The Rockets closed out a 128-97 win that left Rockets fans able to go home happy and offered hope that these types of games can become automatic for a team that still seeks consistency.
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