Martin, Artest lead Kings over Rockets 107-99

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) grabs Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin (23) and is called for his fourth personal foul during the fourth quarter of the Houston Rockets-Sacramento Kings game, played Saturday night. Sacramento beat Houston 107-99.

Despite the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady’s and Yao Ming’s heroics, it wasn’t enough as the other Rockets’ starters and more important - their bench - greatly underachieved. The Sacramento Kings had five players in double-digits as they overwhelmed the Rockets 107-99 at Arco Arena Saturday.

Before the game, former Kings (and current Rockets) coach Rick Adelman was given a standing ovation; he was the Kings coach for eight seasons. The first half was very close with no sizeable leads to be had by either club; Houston held a slim one-point lead at halftime. Kings guard Kevin Martin and McGrady traded baskets for much of the third quarter - McGrady scoring 15 and Martin 14. Despite that scoring barrage, the Rockets were outscored 30-24 in the period. The Kings’ Ron Artest added 8 points in the third period to give Sacramento a 79-74 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Martin’s 3-pointer gave the Kings their largest advantage at 89-79, and Houston couldn’t get closer than 3 the rest of the way. Sacramento was led by Martin and Artest with 26 points each; Beno Udrih added 15, while reserve center Spencer Hawes in 13 minutes of court time scored only 2 points but grabbed 10 rebounds. Houston’s high scorer was McGrady with 40 points, including 5-of-10 3-pointers. Yao Ming added 29 with 11 rebounds. Sacramento (6-10) remains on their homestand as they host the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, while Houston (9-9) returns home to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

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