No legs, no chance. After playing seven games in 11 nights on the road, the Kings looked dog tired Tuesday in Houston and the Rockets ran them off the court by a final of 105-83.
Sacramento native Ryan Anderson started the scoring early. The veteran forward hit 6-for-12 from behind the arc to score 25 points and added 11 rebounds in the win.
MVP candidate James Harden filled the stat sheet with a modest 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Reserve guard Eric Gordon hit the Kings for 17 in 28 minutes of action. 34-year-old big man Nene Hilario chipped in 11 points on 5-for-7 from the field and Clint Capella went for a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
DeMarcus Cousins looked exhausted running up and down the floor. The Kings star big managed to score 16 points, grab seven rebounds and hand out five assists, but he sat for most of the second half as coach Dave Joerger waived the white flag.
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Kosta Koufos went into the paint attacked the rim. Starting alongside Cousins, Koufos scored 12 points on 6-for-7 from the field and added four rebounds.
Willie Cauley-Stein put up solid numbers for his third straight game, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds. Malachi Richardson hoisted up shots at will with the game out of reach, chipping in eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Anthony Tolliver scored 10 points and Matt Barnes added five points and 11 rebounds as the Kings finished the road trip 3-5.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Anderson was a flamethrower. Cousins and company were a step slow getting out on the stretch four and he lit Sacramento up for six big 3-pointers.
TURNING POINT:
This game was over when the NBA dropped the 76ers makeup game into the schedule. Eight games in 12 nights with three sets of back-to-backs is good way to get players injured.
INJURY UPDATE:
Garrett Temple when down holding his left leg in the early third quarter. He was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring and did not return to the game. Omri Casspi missed his 10th straight contest with right a plantaris tendon strain. Rudy Gay is out for the season with a torn left Achilles.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Kings return home following the game where they face the Phoenix Suns on Friday evening on the first night of a back-to-back at Golden 1 Center. The Golden State Warriors come through town on Saturday as the Kings begin a stretch of 11-of-13 on their home court.
