HOUSTON (AP) Harrison Barnes scored 25 points and the Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 122-117 on Friday night.
The Rockets and Kings faced off for the second time in three days after Sacramento’s 121-118 win on Wednesday.
“I thought everyone contributed, and when we needed a save or a field goal, different guys did it for us,” Kings coach Alvin Gentry said. ”We had some guys stepping up, and I think that’s the main thing. It was a very good team victory.
For Sacramento, Damian Jones had 17 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks, Donte DiVincenzo had 19 and Chimezie Metu had 18. Barnes went 10 of 16 from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
“We just want to play good basketball, finish those games and see where it goes,” Jones said. ”We all played our part and fought until the end.”
Houston rookie Jalen Green scored a career-high 33 points and six 3-pointers. He was coming off a 32-point night on Wednesday and topped 20 points for a fifth straight game.
“I feel like I’m getting a lot of attention,” Green said. “When you attack the middle, a lot of people are going to close in, so I just have to be there for my teammates and get to the edge.”
Kevin Porter Jr. had 27 points and 11 assists for the Rockets, and Garrison Mathews had 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3.
The Kings finished the third quarter trailing 91-86, but opened the fourth on an 8-0 run to take a 94-91 lead. Sacramento beat Houston 36-26 in the fourth quarter.
“We had a bunch of good looks, a bunch of good shots that just didn’t work out,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. ”The fight that our group shows is great. I just wish we could come up with the results.”
Hot shooting in the first quarter helped the Rockets take a 41-26 lead early and they led up to 19 points in the first half, but Sacramento came back to tie the game late in the second quarter.
Houston led 62-57 at halftime.
Tempers flared from the touchline throughout the game. Gentry received a technical just 1:14 from the start of the game after yelling at the officials and Silas received a technical later in the third quarter following a foul call.
GO SERIES
The game was interrupted midway through the third quarter by a streaker, who stripped down to his underwear and danced in midfield for a few seconds before being taken down to the ground and taken away by security.
“It was pretty funny,” Jones said. “It seemed like it hurt, to be honest, to be dumped by those guys. ”
SILAS ON FRUSTRATIONS
“For these guys to get through those moments is important for our group. In the fourth quarter, those were big minutes. It gets frustrating at times, but I can’t be frustrated with this group and the way they’re playing. It’s frustrating to have lost, but these guys are playing,” Silas said.
BIG-GAME BOB
Former Rocket Robert Horry sat on the court for the game. Horry, who won two of his seven championships with the Rockets, attempted – and exhausted – the First Shot pregame free throw for charity.
ADVICE
Kings: Sacramento was without De’Aaron Fox (right hand pain), Domantas Sabonis (left knee contusion) and Richuan Holmes (personal). . The Kings made 12 of 28 3-pointers for 42.9%.
Flares: Rookie C Alperen Sengun missed the game with a bruised left leg. Dennis Schroder (left shoulder pain) missed a third straight game. . Usman Garuba recorded a career-high 14 rebounds.
FOLLOWING
Kings: Host Minnesota on Sunday.
Rockets: Host Golden State on Sunday.
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