The losing streak for the young Houston Rockets (10-31) is at a season-high eight games, including 13 of their last 14, after Wednesday’s 135-115 loss at Sacramento (box score). With the first triple-double of his brief NBA career, second-year center Alperen Sengun became the youngest player in franchise history to record the feat.
Sacramento outscored Houston in the fourth quarter, 41-20, to break open what was a very competitive game beforehand. Kevin Porter Jr. left the game in the first half with a left foot contusion, and his prognosis for future games was not immediately clear.
Led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the improving Kings (22-18) have now won five of their last eight games as they seek to earn their first berth in the Western Conference playoffs since 2006 — a run of futility that leads the NBA over that span.
Sabonis led the Kings with 25 points (75.0% FG), 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Fox tallied 24 points, 9 assists, and just 1 turnover on 9-of-18 shooting (50.0%), including 2-of- 4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
Key statistics for the Rockets in Wednesday’s game included:
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Jalen Green: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 9-of-25 shooting (36.0%), 3-of-12 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 5-of-7 on free throws (71.4%)
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Alperen Sengun: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%)
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KJ Martin: 19 points, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
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Garrison Mathews: 12 points, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston, as its four-game West Coast road trip continues, is Friday’s rematch in Sacramento. Tipoff is at 9 pm Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire