I don’t need to remind most of you that the Sacramento Kings swept the Houston Rockets last season. In the first meeting, the Kings made 15 consecutive shots over a period over six minutes ansd while the Rockets never gave up, the game was over after that. The second game was the sort of contest Houston could never seem to win last season: a high-scoring affair. Neither team could stop the other but a third quarter cold spell for Houston spelled their doom. In the third and final matchup, Domantas Sabonis got hurt just as the game started, but if you thought Houston would take advantage of that, think again. Once again, Sacramento shot above 50% from the field and won by 10.
That’s the only through line between those three games. There wasn’t a single player that killed Houston in all three games. It was always a team effort. Sacramento shot well from the floor in all of them.
Sometimes, styles make fights. And for whatever reason, even with different coaches, the Kings had the right style to deal with the Rockets, who we must once again remember had a top 4 defense last season.
So don’t look at the injury report. Don’t look at the betting line. Don’t look at the records.
Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)
The Line (as of this post)
Looking ahead because we can
Friday night at home against the Phoenix Suns