DeMar DeRozan gave Sacramento the lead for good with 2:20 remaining, De'Aaron Fox made five free throws amid two controversial calls in the final 33 seconds, and the host Kings hung on to defeat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.

After a three-game road trip, the Kings returned home Thursday night to face the Western Conference’s second-place Houston Rockets and escaped with a thrilling yet narrow 132-127 win on national television at Golden 1 Center.

DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points, while Malik Monk added 28 and nine assists as Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 132-127. Behind by 16 points midway through the third quarter, the Rockets charged back to take a 91-90 lead early in the fourth.

DeMar DeRozan and De'Aaron Fox continue to give the Kings two formidable clutch-time options after a strong fourth-quarter showing in the Kings' 132-127 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday at Golden 1 Center.

Winning at home has been a big point of emphasis since Christie took over as interim coach of the Kings when Mike Brown was fired in December. The Kings did it again in a Thursday night thriller, beating the Houston Rockets 132-127 before a sellout crowd of 18,227 at Golden 1 Center and a national television audience on TNT.

The Sacramento Kings don't get much time on National TV, and when they do and win a battle like this, it gets felt throughout the city. Lighting the Beam on TNT may not mean much to those watching around the US, but it sure means a lot to the Kings and fans in Sacramento.

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Jan 16, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) celebrates after making a 3 point basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images / Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Following Saturday's practice in Sacramento, De'Aaron Fox speaks with reporters about the defensive improvements from the Kings during their turnaround under interim head coach Doug Christie, reflects on the win over the Houston Rockets two nights ago,

Three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and 17-year NBA veteran Lou Williams dropped his take on DeRozan's elite midrange game, claiming he is top-five in the league's history.

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