Rockets at Kings
THE STORY: After rallying for a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, the Houston Rockets continue on the road Sunday at Sacramento, where they have won six of seven games. The Rockets needed a fourth-quarter comeback and overtime to top the Kings 113-106 on March 26 in Houston. “When we were at home they came out and jumped out early,” Rockets guard Courtney Lee said. “We can’t let that happen. We have to come in ready to go from the start, hopefully jump on them.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Houston (Rockets), CSN California (Kings)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (30-25): Houston could see the return of guard Kyle Lowry to the lineup Sunday night. Lowry has been out exactly a month with a bacterial infection. Coach Kevin McHale said he did not know when Lowry would play, perhaps tonight or Monday in Portland. Lowry, who participated in practice Saturday, had no comment. Goran Dragic has averaged 18.1 points on 52.4 percent shooting, 8.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds as a starter. He also is shooting 44 percent on 3-pointers.
ABOUT THE KINGS (19-37): The Kings, saddled with a three-game losing streak and 11 games out of the final playoff spot, can only play spoiler the rest of the way. They gave the Rockets all they could handle in their last game in Houston. DeMarcus Cousins scored 38 points in that matchup, at the time a career high. He had 15 points and tied a career high with 20 rebounds in Saturday’s 109-94 loss to the Clippers.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. A big part of Houston’s rally against Sacramento on March 26 was free-throw shooting, with the Rockets making 23 of 27.
2. The Kings are 4-11 in the second half of back-to-backs.
3. Luis Scola has four career games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings