Rockets hold off Kings 113-106
November 22, 2009
HOUSTON (AP)—The Houston Rockets kept their record clean in second games ofback-to-backs. Still, it almost got a little messy in the fourth quarter.
After leading by 15 points in the second quarter and holding a 59-52halftime edge, the Rockets needed 22 points from Luis Scola(notes) and some defensedown the stretch to beat the Sacramento Kings 113-106 on Saturday night.
“It was a really hard and long week,” Scola said. “We had some good andbad moments. We fought, we played hard. We can’t always win pretty but tonightwas a huge win for us. We needed a win.”
Sacramento Kings' Jason Th… AP – Nov 21, 11:34 pm EST Houston Rockets' Carl Land… AP – Nov 21, 11:34 pm EST
Houston Rockets' Kayle Low… AP – Nov 21, 11:33 pm EST
Houston Rockets' Trevor Ar… AP – Nov 21, 11:33 pm EST
Sacramento Kings' Andres N… AP – Nov 21, 9:52 pm EST
Sacramento Kings' Spencer … AP – Nov 21, 9:50 pm EST
Sacramento Kings' Jason Th… AP – Nov 21, 9:50 pm EST
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The Rockets moved to 4-0 this season in second games of back-to-backs.
Kyle Lowry(notes) had eight assists and hit four straight free throws to ice it.
“We couldn’t get it going until the last couple of minutes,” Lowry said.“Me and Scola both hit some open jump shots. We finished the game strong. Ittook us a while to get going. The last time we played them we played sluggishand let them control the game.”
The Kings played without rookie Tyreke Evans(notes), who sprained a finger on hisright hand diving for a ball Friday night in a 104-102 loss to Dallas He scored29 points against the Mavericks and is averaging 18.2 points this season.
The Kings had six players in double figures, led by Spencer Hawes(notes) with 24points and Beno Udrih(notes) with 18. The Rockets had five players in double figures.Trevor Ariza(notes) added 19 for the Rockets.
“I like the spirit and the effort on this team,” Kings coach Paul Westphalsaid. “Everyone should be pleased with the way we’re playing. I like the way wecompete every night. I’m sorry we couldn’t cash in on the effort. This team hasheart but we haven’t learned how to win.”
With the score tied 101-all, Scola scored a go-ahead basket with 3:41 toplay. He followed with two rebounds that helped the Rockets stay ahead.
The Rockets led by 59-52 to start the third quarter but the Kings came outshooting 3-pointers, two to start the period by Donte Greene(notes).
Sacramento used an 11-0 spurt midway in the third quarter to take its firstlead of the game, 71-69 on a basket by Omri Casspi(notes) with 5:40 left in the period.
“You don’t give out consolation prizes but all we want are notches in thewin column,” Hawes said. “They executed better than we did at the end. A lotof guys stepped up tonight but we fell short.”
Scola took charge from the beginning, leading the Rockets’ hot start with 14points on 6-for-10 shooting in the period. The Rockets shot 65 percent from thefield in the opening period and had their biggest lead at 33-24 to end theperiod.
The Rockets lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the final second on Fridaynight.
“That’s the good thing about the NBA,” Ariza said. “You get a tough lossthe night before and you get an opportunity to come back the next night andchange the outcome. Once we lost that one, we kind of forgot about it, got onthe plane and got here and we got some good rest. We game back and got a wintoday.”
NOTES: The Rockets lost to the Kings 109-100 on Nov. 13 despite having threeplayers in double figures, Trevor Ariza (28), Shane Battier(notes) (23) and Luis Scola(20). … The Rockets had a three-game winning streak early in the season butsince then they haven’t won more than one in a row. … Houston has won the lastfive games against Sacramento in Houston. … The Kings have scored 100 pointsin seven of their last eight games. … Rockets coach Rick Adelman is thewinningest coach in Kings history (395-229).
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