Fox returns, Murray posts career-high as Sacramento Kings pour 140 points on Rockets

Feb 6, 2023, 8:08 PM | Updated: Feb 7, 2023, 11:59 am

Sacramento Kings stars De'Aaron Fox #5 high fives Trey Lyles #41 against the Houston Rockets during...

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The return of De’Aaron Fox might have been the main storyline entering Monday’s game in Houston, but Keegan Murray would be the star of the night for the Sacramento Kings once the clock hit zero.

After struggling to score from beyond the three-point arc over the past week of action, the Kings bounced back in a big way during a 140-120 win over the Rockets as Murray’s career-high 30 points paved the way to a comfortable win, one that snapped a two-game skid.

Sacramento Kings equal last season’s win total

Beating the NBA-worst Rockets was noteworthy for a few reasons, but none more significant than the fact that Sacramento equaled last season’s win total (30) after securing their 30th win of the year.

With 29 games to go, the Kings have also equaled last season’s road win total (14) as they continue to prove they can win away from Golden 1 Center. With another victory over Houston on Wednesday, Sacramento can return home having posted a 4-3 record during this seven-game, two-week road trip.

KEEGAN HITS HIS EIGHTH 3-POINTER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fbHCmWk5gw

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 7, 2023

De’Aaron Fox makes immediate impact for Sacramento Kings

In his first action since returning from leave to be with his wife for the birth of his son, Reign, it didn’t take long for De’Aaron Fox to make an imprint on the Kings offense.

Thanks to Fox’s playmaking and ability to push the pace, Sacramento jumped out to a 65-48 lead at the halftime break as the starting unit received a much-needed boost from its star guard.

After scoring just 41 points during Sunday’s blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Kings’ starting unit combined to score 49 points during the first 24 minutes of action. Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray–players that have both struggled during the past three games–found their offense early as the duo combined for 18 points on seven-of-14 shooting during the first half.

Fox displayed his dad strength early, scoring 13 points, dishing out five assists, and swiping two steals over his first 19 minutes of action.

With Fox back in the fold, Domantas Sabonis doing what he does best (which is pretty much everything), and the offense finally knocking down shots, Sacramento was well on its way to snapping a two-game skid before the second half even began.

While the offense largely ran through Fox, Sabonis, and Huerter during the first half, the second half would belong to Murray.

Keegan hits his seventh 3-pointer, a new career high 🎉 pic.twitter.com/VIo7AYitXH

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 7, 2023

Keegan Murray’s career-high 30 points paves the way to victory

Murray, who entered play having shot 1-for-16 from beyond the arc over the past three games to score 30 points (22 during the second half) on eight-of-12 (career-high) shooting from deep while grabbing six rebounds over 33 minutes.

The fourth-overall pick is closing in on setting a new Kings franchise record for made three-point field goals by a rookie, as he sits just two triples short of tying Bogdan Bogdanovic’s mark of 129 made long-balls during the 2017-18 season.

With Murray leading the charge on offense, the rest of Sacramento’s shooters followed in suit as Huerter (16 points on seven-of-12 shooting) and Malik Monk (20 points over 20 minutes) took over down the stretch.

Monk scored all 20 of his points in the second half, as the 25-year-old combined with Murray to score 42 points during the final 24 minutes of play. Thanks to an awakening on the offensive end, the Kings finished the game with 140 points–the second-most that they have scored this season–on 58 percent shooting from the field and 51 percent from deep.

Everything was clicking on the offensive end.

Fox finished the night with 16 points and eight assists while pushing the pace (Kings beat Houston 38-27 in fastbreak points). Domantas Sabonis extended his NBA lead in double-doubles with his 42nd of the season after scoring 17 points (seven-of-10 shooting), seven boards, and handing out 10 assists.

Monk and Trey Lyles (14 points over 18 minutes) contributed off the bench in a big way. As far as offense goes, it was a spotless effort from Sacramento when they really needed a breakthrough.

Malik drops back-to-back 3-pointers 👌 pic.twitter.com/3YVorqFd2P

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 7, 2023

Defensive errors and mishaps continued on Monday night, as the Rockets poured 120 points on the Kings’ defense thanks to 50 percent shooting from the field and 40 from deep, but that’s something that you unfortunately come to expect with this team.

Against Houston–a team with an even worse defense than Sacramento–the Kings were able to outgun the Rockets thanks to the return of a high-powered offense. Against other teams, that might not be the case–but Sacramento doesn’t make the schedule.

Getting back on track after two disappointing losses to the Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Pelicans was the most important aspect of Monday’s win, especially as the Kings attempt to keep their pace in the Western Conference standings.

Following the win, Sacramento maintained a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in the West’s third spot (and the top spot in the Pacific Division) after the latter beat the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.

If the Kings are indeed a top team in the West, taking care of business is the name of the game. Win games that you ‘should’ win, and do so comfortably. The offense won’t always be there to bail out a rough defense, but that’s something that general manager Monte McNair will need to address before Thursday’s trade deadline passes.

Sacramento needs more defensive impact for a postseason run, but we know what the offense was capable of–and we all got a front-row seat to see its triumphant return on Monday in Houston.

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Next Game

The lengthy seven-game road trip will conclude on Wednesday for Sacramento as they will run it back against the Rockets at Toyota Center.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Rockets coverage on Sactown Sports 1140 starting at 3:30 pm PST on Game Night before action tips off at 5:00 pm PST from Houston.