Rockets vs. Kings game thread

Sacramento Kings (38-39) vs. Houston Rockets (49-28), Apr. 1st, 2019, 9:00 p.m. CDT

Location: Golden 1 Credit Union Center, Sacramento, CA

TV: AT&T SportsNet

Radio: 790-AM; Spanish: 850 AM/101.7Online: Rockets App

Kings SBNation Blog: Sactown Royalty

Projected Starting Lineups

Sacramento: DeAaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III, Willie Cauley-Stein

Houston: Chris Paul, James Harden, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Clint Capela

The Rockets face the Sacramento Kings once again after defeating them 119-108 just three nights prior behind a ho-hum 50 point triple double from James Harden that officially eliminated the Kings from the playoffs.

Despite the Rockets being afforded rest between the two meetings, the Kings are coming off of a spirited win in San Antonio on Sunday afternoon.

A win would inch the Rockets that much closer to the 51-25, second-placed Denver Nuggets who are reeling following a loss to the lowly Washington Wizards and have a tough closing schedule of @GSW, SA, POR, @POR, and @UTA. If Houston wins out and Denver loses even three of those games, it’s possible Houston finishes second.

Additionally, a win would allow Houston to regain possession of third-place from the Portland Trail Blazers who currently have the exact same record as the Rockets (49-28), but hold the tiebreaker.

Unfortunately, Harden will be playing this game with a heavy heart as his close friend Ermias Asghedom, known professionally as rapper Nipsey Hussle, passed away Sunday night. Harden missed practice yesterday for personal reasons, but is expected to play tonight.

RIP Nipsey. The Marathon Continues.