Two nights after allowing an astonishing 153 points in a loss at Oklahoma City, the defensive results weren’t much better for the young Houston Rockets in a 140-120 home loss (box score) to Sacramento. The Kings led comfortably for most of Monday’s game, with their 65 first-half points providing a formidable cushion.
In a battle of two rookie forwards drafted in the top-four picks of the 2022 first round, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray clearly outshined Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets. Smith, the No. 3 overall selection, saw his first-year offensive struggles continue with 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting (33.3%) and 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%).
Meanwhile, Murray — the No. 4 overall pick — led the Kings with 30 points and 6 rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting (64.7%), including 8-of-12 from 3-point range (66.7%). Sacramento (30-23) remains in an impressive third place in the Western Conference standings.
Key offensive statistics for the Rockets (13-41), who continue to hold the NBA’s worst record on the 2022-23 season, included:
- Jalen Green: 27 points, 3 assists, 2 steals; 10-of-21 shooting (47.6%), 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5%)
- KJ Martin: 18 points, 8 rebounds; 8=of-10 shooting (80.0%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers
- Eric Gordon: 16 points, 8 assists, 2 steals; 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%)
- Alperen Sengun: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists; 4-of-10 shooting (40.0%), 1-of-2 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston is a rematch with the Kings in the same Toyota Center arena on Wednesday night, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
Keegan Murray hits his 8th 3, then Jabari isolates him and airballs a mid range jumper and thats a good summary of how each rookie's season has gone
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 7, 2023
Kings could have the top-rated offense in the league by end of game. They were close to Denver, who is off, for top spot. But Rockets cannot helpless to get stops. Kings shooting 54.4 %, 47.1 % on 3s, lead 117-97, with 6:19 left. Drive home safely.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 7, 2023
Malik Monk is literally walking into wide open threes. Rockets trail Kings 117-97 with six minutes to go. Not a great response after the OKC game.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 7, 2023
Rockets miss KPJ's consistent scoring. I know its a polarizing opinion, but you need another player who can get their own shot in this offense and for whatever your opinion of him is that is one thing he does better than anyone on the team
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 7, 2023
Fantastic third quarter from Jalen Green:
14 points on 5/8 FG + much more locked in defensively
He's up to 24 points for the game
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 7, 2023
Final: Rockets 120, Kings 140.
Kings made threes in the 4th (11 attempts) and 21 for 41 from 3 in the game.
— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) February 7, 2023
Rockets vs Kings Thoughts:
1. Always refreshing when Jalen Green goes off & reminds us of his insane scoring-champ potential
2. Run the offense thru Sengun & never stop. It’s a thing of beauty
3. KJ Martin. Superb role player
4. Jabari Smith has a long (very long) way to go
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 7, 2023
Keegan has made more threes than Jabari has made FGs
— Abel (@AbelGe87) February 7, 2023
Oh my God Keegan is putting Jabari in the dirt
— Kyle Chilek (@Kchile22) February 7, 2023
Sengun's 3 ball looks so much better this year
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) February 7, 2023
293 points allowed in the last 2 games. That’s the state of the Rockets defense right now.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 7, 2023
Kings 140, Rockets 120. Keegan Murray with a Kings rookie record 30. Kings 21 of 41 on 3s. Jalen Green with 27, Eric Gordon matches season high with eight assists. But Rockets defense crushed again. Kings shoot 58.4 %.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 7, 2023
Stephen Silas on Houston’s defensive effort— “Acting as if it doesn’t matter, it matters. It’s disappointing. That’s not right. What we did on the floor, it’s not right.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 7, 2023
Jabari has shown some flashes but man this stretch of games has been brutal. Just not nearly strong enough yet.
Has to take a big physical step forward this offseason.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) February 7, 2023
Keegan is the age of a college senior and Jabari is still the age of a freshman lol.
Crazy to step back and think about the difference 3.5 years makes physically. Jabari will be just fine, but will take him some time.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) February 7, 2023
More Silas: “They (the Kings) can score. They’re right at the top of the league, but just letting guys line up a wide open threes? Like no, we don't do that. We don't do that.” https://t.co/YKdaD3MohC
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) February 7, 2023
Stephen Silas incredibly heated during his postgame presser, citing "lack of effort" multiple times, slamming the table to emphasize his points.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 7, 2023
Stephen Silas: "They're not giving the effort on the defensive end." pic.twitter.com/PTRLmoEVTe
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 7, 2023
That's as angry as Silas has been all season. After surrendering 153 to the Thunder, allowing 140 to the Kings (on 58.4% shooting with 21 3s) pushed him past his limit of finding a silver lining.
— MoiseKapenda Bower (@moisekapenda) February 7, 2023
More Green: "(Silas) was just saying we're doing ourselves a disservice, so I think everyone in the locker room agrees with him. We could have came out play harder, especially in that second half." https://t.co/L9nQrjfHwV
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 7, 2023
Silas: "It's are we going out there and doing everything that we can possibly do to win the game? Or are we just going out there and playing the game? That's what it is. It's disappointing."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 7, 2023
Silas: "They can score, they're right at the top of the league, but just letting guys line up wide open threes like no, we don't do that. We don't do that, We've had a stretch of this season, these last couple games where this is not how we're supposed to play."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 7, 2023
