Rockets launch 3-point barrage at Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Trevor Ariza scored all 18 of his points on six 3-pointers and the Houston Rockets were dialed in from long distance on Friday night in a 117-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
Ariza knocked down 6 of 11 3-pointers and the Rockets (10-6) finished with a season-best 21 in shooting their way to their fourth win in five games.
Seven players scored in double digits for Houston, and seven knocked made at least one 3-pointer.
Houston has made at least 10 3-pointers in 15 straight games, the third-longest streak in NBA history and only one shy of the mark set a year ago by the Golden State Warriors and matched later in the season by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James Harden also finished with 23 points on just 6-of-18 shooting from the field but had 10 assists and 10 rebounds for Houston. Harden scored only six points in the first half on 1-of-7 shooting from the field, but the Rockets' blistering shooting carried them to a 53-24 lead three minutes into the second quarter.
DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings (6-10) with 32 points and made four consecutive 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter to bring the Kings within 112-104 with a minute left. Those 3's came during a stretch in which Cousins scored 16 consecutive points for Sacramento.
Eric Gordon answered Cousins' final 3-pointer with one of his own, effectively ending the rally. The Rockets' 50 3-point attempts set a record for an opponent against Sacramento.
Clint Capela and Ryan Anderson each scored 13 points for Houston, Gordon finished with 11 and Corey Brewer and Nene had 10 apiece.
Matt Barnes and Ty Lawson each scored 12 points for the Kings, and Kosta Koufos added 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field to go with five rebounds.
The Kings play their next six games on the road, their second-longest trip of the season. They play all Eastern Conference teams and the combined record of the opponents after Friday were 32-57.
NOTES: The Rockets have not addressed media reports that they pulled a two-year contract offer for F Donatas Motiejunas from the table on Wednesday, the deadline for signing players and keeping them eligible to be traded by the Feb. 23 deadline. Motiejunas, who averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game for the Rockets two seasons ago, is a restricted free agent who hasn't played this season. ... Sacramento F Omri Casspi revealed to the blog Cowbell Kingdom that he has not spoken to coach Dave Joerger since the presesason. Casspi, a regular in the Kings' lineup last season at 27 minutes per game, is not in Joerger's rotation and hadn't played in three straight game before Friday. ... Rockets F Ryan Anderson, who grew up about 30 minutes outside Sacramento and rooted for the Kings, told CSN Bay Area's James Ham that signing a free-agent deal with Houston and turning down the Kings marked the "toughest decision of my life." ... Kings F DeMarcus Cousins reached 250 career double-doubles in Wednesday's win over Oklahoma City and trails only Atlanta C Dwight Howard (266) and Cleveland F Kevin Love (266) among active players.