SACRAMENTO -- Back-to-back wins over quality opponents has given the Sacramento Kings something to feel thankful about. After taking down high-scoring guards DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook in successive games, Sacramento draws another offensive juggernaut in Houston’s James Harden Friday night at Golden 1 Center.
DeMarcus Cousins dropped in 36 points and 13 rebounds against the Thunder on Wednesday night, but it was a team effort that propelled Sacramento to the 116-101 victory. Eight of the nine Kings players that stepped on the floor scored eight or more points, including 21 from Darren Collison in his second start of the season.
The Rockets took one in the chin last time out, losing 115-102 against a motivated Raptors team fresh off a loss in Sacramento. Harden posted 29 points, 15 assists and six rebounds, but turned the ball over an alarming 12 times in the loss.
OPENING LINE
Rockets by 3
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Sports
DeMarcus Cousins vs. Clint Capela -- Cousins shredded NBA toughman Steven Adams last time out. He’s playing at an incredibly high level, averaging 27.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Capela will have his hands full. The third-year big is filling the big shoes left by the departure of All-Star Dwight Howard. The defensive-minded center can’t keep up with Cousins’ scoring numbers, but he grabs a team-high 8.6 rebounds a game for Houston and blocks 2.0 shots in just 25.6 minutes a night.
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 6-9, fourth place in Pacific
Rockets: 9-6, third place in Southwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: No injuries to report.
Rockets: No injuries to report.
SERIES HISTORY
Houston took the season series 3-1 last year with the Kings only victory coming on Dec 15 by a final of 107-97 at Sleep Train Arena. The Rockets hold a 124-88 all-time lead over the Kings and an 83-42 advantage in the Sacramento-era.
QUOTE
“We’re just coming together as a team. We understand that in order for us to win these games, we’ve got to come collectively as a team now on the defensive end. It’s not one man that’s trying to guard him, but they’ve got to come against our whole five on the court.” -Darren Collison on playing against a string of star guards
