The last time the Kings played the Rockets, James Harden was still in Houston and both teams had their sights set on the postseason. This game is going to look a little different.
Now, the Kings have seen their season somewhat sputter away by losing 11 of 13 games; that stretch put Sacramento 4.5 games back of the no. 10 seed, a.k.a. the play-in tournament. That means the vultures are circling around the Kings, hoping to pry away one of their veterans for the stretch run.
Houston is in similar straits. Harden is gone, and the team’s best player in his absence, Christian Wood, has missed the last 13 games.