An interesting team the Sacramento Kings is. They’re relatively young, rather green and have a new coach in Paul Westphal. Yet here they are, prior to their game against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, right at the .500 mark. Rather heady territory  for a team with low expectations. One of the reasons for their immediate success is one Jason Thompson – probably the best basketball player from Rider College (University?). Thompson continued his hot shooting as he scored a career-high 27 points, leading Sacramento to the 109-100 win over Houston at Arco Arena.

Both teams were hot in the first quarter as no lead was larger than five; the Rockets would tie the game up at 30-all on a pair of free throws by Kyle Lowry. Sacramento would retake then gradually increase their lead to double-digits, capped by a Thompson jumper with 2:34 left in the half; Beno Udrih’s three-pointer would pad the Kings lead to 63-49 until Aaron Brooks hit a pair of free throws, narrowing Houston’s deficit to eleven as both teams went to their respective locker rooms.

Luis Scola helped the Rockets regain the lead at 71-70 as he drained a pair of free throws, followed by a jumper at he 5:09 mark of the third quarter; the Kings’ Andres Nocioni would convert a three-point play, allowing Sacramento to regain the lead at 73-71. They would go into the final 12 minutes ahead 82-77. The fourth quarter was back-and-forth as the teams, for the most part, traded baskets; however, Nocioni drained a jumper, sealing the game for Sacramento with 2:49 left in the game.

Thompson led all Kings scorers with a career-high 27 points along with 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while Udrih added 22 (including four 3-pointers) with 3 rebounds and 4 assists; Tyreke Evans scored 20 with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block while Nocioni drained 15 with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Houston was led by Trevor Ariza with 28 points (including four treys), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and a block while Shane Battier added 23 (including 4 three-pointers) with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocks; Scola pitched in 20 with 9 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. Sacramento (5-4) plays again on Tuesday when they host the Chicago Bulls while Houston (5-4) travels to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers Sunday.