Kings at Rockets
THE STORY: The NBA’s coaching carousel took its first turn last week when Sacramento fired Paul Westphal and replaced him with assistant Keith Smart. Two games in and it appears that the new regime is working wonders, particularly for DeMarcus Cousins. The embattled big man was at the epicenter of an ongoing feud with Westphal but is thriving under Smart’s tutelage. Cousins finished with 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds his last time out. “He plays like that, he's an All-Star for sure,” point guard Tyreke Evans said. “The way he's playing right now is unbelievable. We need that out of him every night.” The Kings will be looking to give Smart a second straight win when they travel to face the reeling Houston Rockets on Friday night.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports, FSN-Houston
ABOUT THE KINGS (4-7): Sacramento heads into the third of a five-game trip with momentum on its side, having picked up a 98-91 win over Toronto for the team’s first road win of the season. Cousins is averaging 18.3 points and 13.5 rebounds with four double-doubles in the four games since Westphal was canned. Evans is also thriving of late, averaging 24.5 points under Smart. Rookie Jimmer Fredette has started the past two games, shooting 5 of 17 from the floor.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (3-7): Having played a Western Conference-high seven road games with just one win to show for it, the Rockets open a stretch of nine of 11 at the Toyota Center. Shooting guard and former King Kevin Martin will be happy to be back at home, where he averages 22.7 ppg compared to 14.1 on the road. Samuel Dalembert, another former King, has averaged 4.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while starting the last three games. Houston has lost five of six.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Kings leading scorer Marcus Thornton is listed as questionable after missing a pair of games with a bruised thigh.
2. Rockets forward Luis Scola has averaged 20.7 points and 11.8 in his last six home contests against Sacramento.