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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- It took them a while, but when the Sacramento Kings finally ended their 11-game losing streak to the Houston Rockets, they did it in a big way.
Jason Williams had 23 points and 10 assists as the Kings used a 17-1 burst in the fourth quarter to beat Houston 128-110 Thursday
night, ending their long skid to the Rockets.
The Kings won their fourth game in a row and the Rockets dropped
to 0-6 in Compaq Center, their worst home start ever. The Kings got
their most points of the season.
"With a win, I'm always all right," Williams said. "I've been
struggling from the outside but I felt a lot better today. Houston
is a great offense team but I credit our bench with the win."
The Kings beat the Rockets for the first time since a 96-91
victory in Sacramento on April 4, 1996, and registered their first
win in Houston since a 114-110 victory Dec. 15, 1995.
The Kings' bench outscored Houston's 68-30, led by Predrag
Stojakovic with 20 points, including seven in the game-winning
rally.
"The bench won it without any help from the starters," Chris
Webber said. "I'm so happy with the way our team is playing."
Kings coach Rick Adelman had a pep talk for his team in the fourth quarter run.
"I thought our second group was too lethargic when they made
their run to start the fourth quarter," Adelman said. "During a
time out I told the guys to push the ball more. We were fortunate
to get a couple of baskets to get the lead. After that we got more
confident and it just snowballed."
Predrag Stojakovic had 20 bench points for the Kings, including seven in their big run. Darrick Martin added 14.
"We're starting to develop a killer instinct," Martin said.
"I know that when I'm out there and we get the opportunity to
finish them off, I'm trying to step on their throat."
The Kings had to overcome a season-high 31-point performance by
Hakeem Olajuwon.
Houston led 103-96 with 10:20 to go before the Kings surged to take a 113-104 edge with 5:44 left. Predrag Stojakovic had seven points in the run and finished with 20 points.
The Rockets went 7:09 without a basket until Charles Barkley broke the drought with 3:09 left.
"When we get a lead we can't lose our focus and get
loosey-goosey," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We've got
to stay aggressive and we're not doing that. We're going through
cycles when no one is making any shots especially at crunch time."
The third quarter turned into a wide-open running show with Vlade Divac scoring 12 points in the quarter and Corliss Williamson
hitting 10 for an 89-88 lead.
The Rockets got off to a quick start, breaking from a 9-9 tie
with a 24-8 run that gave them a 33-17 lead with 2:54 to go in the
first quarter. Olajuwon had 11 points in the period.
Barkley had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets and Steve
Francis has 16 points and 11 assists.
Game notes Divac is one of four active players to have 8,000 career
points, 6,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks. The others
are Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. ... Sacramento's
4-1 start is the team's best since it opened 5-0 in 1995. ...
Williams celebrated his 24th birthday. ... The Rockets scored a
season high 110 points and a season-high 46 field goals.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Washington 92 Toronto 81
Milwaukee 99 San Antonio 88
Sacramento 128 Houston 110
Denver 93 LA Lakers 82
Seattle 110 Vancouver 108
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