December 22 - Dennis Schroder buried a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Sacramento Kings to a 125-124 comeback win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
Sacramento overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure just its seventh victory of the season and stop a five-game skid. Schroder delivered 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds off the bench, sealing the outcome after the Kings trailed late in the extra period.
DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 27 points and nine assists, while Keegan Murray scored 26. Russell Westbrook added 21 points and 13 rebounds, including a tying three-pointer with 14.2 seconds left in regulation that sent the game to overtime.
Houston received a game-high 28 points from Alperen Sengun. Kevin Durant finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but his final shot attempt with less than a second remaining bounced off the rim. Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 18 points, with Tari Eason adding 16 and reserve Reed Sheppard contributing 15.
Smith converted two of three free throws with 10.4 seconds left in overtime to put the Rockets ahead by two. On the ensuing possession, DeRozan drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to Schroder, who calmly knocked down the decisive shot.
Houston shot 47.9% from the field and made 16 of 38 attempts from three-point range. Sacramento finished at 46.3% overall and went 12 of 32 from beyond the arc.
The Rockets appeared in control late in the fourth quarter after Smith’s three-pointer extended their lead to 100-86 with 9:58 remaining. Sacramento answered with a 12-0 run, highlighted by seven points from Murray and a Schroder three that cut the margin to two.
Houston still held a five-point edge before DeRozan’s dunk with 43.9 seconds left set up Westbrook’s game-tying three. The Rockets led 68-57 at halftime behind Sengun’s 18 first-half points and carried a 91-82 advantage into the final quarter, but were unable to close out the win.
