Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Houston Rockets (5-3) at Sacramento Kings (4-4), 10 p.m.

The Sacramento Kings seek their first four-game winning streak in well over a year Friday when they resume a four-game homestand against Houston at ARCO Arena.

The Kings, who finished a league- and franchise-worst 17-65 last season, haven't won four in a row since March 30-April 5, 2008.

Sacramento improved to 2-0 on its residency Tuesday when Jason Thompson posted 21 points and 14 rebounds and rookie Tyreke Evans scored 20 in a solid all- around game, as the Kings won their third straight overall with a 101-98 triumph over Oklahoma City.

Evans provided a game-high eight assists with as many rebounds and hit all 10 of his free throw attempts. Andres Nocioni had 16 points while Spencer Hawes and Beno Udrih donated 12 points each for the Kings, who moved to .500 (4-4) after beginning their season with three straight losses.

"Right now the young guys are doing a great job. They're bringing energy, playing hard (and) playing good defense," Nocioni said. "It's really nice to have these young guys. They give us new blood on the team."

Sacramento, which is streaking despite the absence of leading scorer Kevin Martin, who is sidelined for two months after wrist surgery, will finish its homestand on Nov. 17 against Chicago.

The Rockets, meanwhile, are starting a quick two-game tour of California tonight after a rather easy 104-79 win over Memphis in south Texas on Wednesday. Luis Scola led the way with 22 points and 15 rebounds in that one, while Carl Landry added 20 points and Trevor Ariza donated 17.

Kyle Lowry registered eight points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who rebounded from a lopsided defeat to Dallas on Tuesday.

"At halftime we talked about we didn't come out with the energy that we needed to," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "The first half, there wasn't a spark there. In the third quarter we really turned it on, got in the open court and got fast-break points."

Houston, which will face the LA Lakers on Sunday, swept a three-game season series against the Kings last season and won each game by 11 points or more.