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Rockets-Kings Preview

Nov 13, 2009 - 1:59 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Houston (5-3) at Sacramento (4-4), 10:00 p.m. EDT

A .500 record after eight games wouldn't normally be something to get overly excited about. Considering where the Sacramento Kings finished last season, their enthusiasm can be understood.

The Kings seek their first four-game winning streak in more than 18 months Friday night when they host the Houston Rockets.

Expectations are relatively low for Sacramento (4-4) after it finished a franchise-worst 17-65 last season, prompting the hiring of coach Paul Westphal on June 10.

Any hopes the Kings had at sneaking up on teams seemed to be dashed when leading scorer Kevin Martin was lost for two months to wrist surgery. Although Martin averaged 30.6 points in five games before his injury, Sacramento went 1-4 during that span and their future appeared bleak with their best player on the shelf for an extended period.

With contributions from rookies and veterans, the Kings have won three straight to reach .500 for the first time since Dec. 4, 2006. Sacramento, which hasn't won four in a row since March 30-April 5, 2008, has had three straight losing seasons after eight consecutive playoff appearances.

"We want to start getting respect around here and the only way to do that is on the court," said forward Jason Thompson, a second-year player who is one of six Kings with one year or less experience.

Thompson had 21 points and 14 rebounds while rookie Tyreke Evans continued his impressive play with 20 points, eight boards and eight assists in Tuesday's 101-98 victory over visiting Oklahoma City.

Sacramento made 31 of 36 free throws, hitting all 14 attempts in the third quarter.

"It was a great thing, the way we closed out the game was right," said Andres Nocioni, who matched a season high with 16 points. "Our young guys are doing a great job. They are bringing energy and playing great defense. They have given us new blood on this team."

One of those young players is Evans, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. In his last three games, Evans has averaged 25.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

"I am feeling good out there," said Evans. "I have a good bounce to my game. I feel comfortable attacking the basketball."

Houston (5-3) should provide another challenge for the improving Kings. The Rockets have won five of seven since a season-opening loss, and are coming off a dominant second-half performance Wednesday in a 104-79 win over lowly Memphis.

A five-point halftime lead didn't sit well with coach Rick Adelman, who tore into his team for their sluggish play. The Rockets responded by outscoring the Grizzlies 31-19 in the third quarter.

"At halftime, we talked about the fact that we didn't come out with the energy we needed to," Adelman said. "The first half, we didn't come out with a spark. The third quarter, we really turned it on."

Luis Scola had 22 points and 15 rebounds and Carl Landry scored 20 for Houston, which matched a season high with 30 assists and finished with 27 fast-break points.

Despite missing injured stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, the Rockets have scored 100 points or more in seven straight games, the club's longest such streak since a 12-game run during the 1995-96 season.

A big reason for that success is Landry, who is averaging 15.6 points per game - more than six points above last season's total. He has scored in double figures in a career-best seven consecutive games.

The Rockets won all three meetings against the Kings in 2008-09 by an average of 13.3 points.