Print
Kings hold off Rockets in Adelman's return
Sacramento 107, Houston 99
Video Recap
Box Score
Print
RSS Feed
Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
Before the lights of Arco Arena were shut off for the Sacramento Kings' pregame introductions, Rockets coach Rick Adelman received a standing ovation from his former team's fans.
The Kings were far less hospitable after that.
Despite another late charge from Tracy McGrady, the Kings frustrated the Rockets on the offensive end and spoiled Adelman's return to Sacramento with a 107-99 victory on Saturday night. The Rockets (9-9) suffered their second straight setback to slip back to .500.
The Kings, which had five players finish in double figures, never trailed after seizing the lead midway through the third quarter. They spent most of the second half at the foul line -- swishing 25 of 31 free throws -- and survived a final spurt from McGrady to hold off the Rockets. McGrady, who is the NBA's leading scorer when playing on the road, netted 28 of his game-high 40 points in the second half.
Adelman, who guided the Kings to eight straight playoff appearances, was coaching his first game in Sacramento since being dismissed by the team in 2006. During pregame introductions, the Rockets coach responded to a standing ovation by waving to the crowd.
The Rockets, though, didn't have much else to celebrate after that.
With the Kings fronting and doubling Yao over the final three quarters, the Rockets struggled to generate enough offense against one of the league's worst defensive teams. Houston shot 42.7 percent from the field and had only two players -- McGrady and Yao -- reach double figures. The rest of the Rockets made a collective 13 of 37 shots. Yao, who scored 16 points in the first quarter, finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds before being ejected late in the fourth quarter.
McGrady did give the Rockets a chance. The Rockets' seven-time All-Star got hot in the second half, sinking five three-pointers on his way to his third 40-point performance of the season.
He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and nearly helped Houston recover from a 10-point deficit. Shortly after sinking a pull-up jumper to pull Houston within 95-90, McGrady found Yao underneath the basket. The Rockets center was fouled on the play and hit two free throws to cut Sacramento's lead to three.
But that's as close as the Rockets would get.
Yao fouled out after drawing his fifth and sixth fouls in the closing minutes when Ron Artest and Beno Udrih created contact with him in the paint. Shortly after reaching the Rockets' bench, Yao fired a towel onto the floor during a timeout and was sent to the locker room by the officiating crew. Kevin Martin, who had 26 points, hit a technical free throw and Udrih then hit his two shots at the stripe to give the Kings an insurmoutable 106-96 lead.
Steve Francis missed the game with a bruised tailbone.
