The Houston Rockets walked into Golden 1 Center on Sunday riding high after a statement win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. But what was supposed to be a routine victory against a struggling Sacramento Kings squad turned into a frustrating 125-124 overtime loss - the kind of game that leaves a coach searching for answers and a team questioning its focus.
After the game, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka didn’t mince words. His postgame comments weren’t just a critique of his own squad - they also carried a pointed jab at Sacramento.
“We didn’t really deserve to win that,” Udoka said. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting them motivated in games against lesser opponents.”
That “lesser opponents” line wasn’t subtle. Sacramento came into the night with a 6-21 record, bottom of the Western Conference and riding a five-game losing streak.
On paper, it was a mismatch. But games aren’t played on paper, and the Kings came out with energy, grit, and a refusal to go quietly - especially in the second half.
The Rockets, meanwhile, let the game slip through their fingers. Despite holding an 11-point lead at halftime (68-57), Houston couldn’t close the door.
Sacramento clawed its way back, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and defensive lapses. The Kings grabbed 19 offensive rebounds - a stat that speaks volumes about effort and hustle.
Add in unforced turnovers and missed defensive assignments, and it’s not hard to see how the game got away.
“It was the entire game. Our approach wasn’t right,” Udoka said. “Letting them hang around the way they did was on us.”
This wasn’t an isolated incident either. For all the Rockets’ impressive performances against top-tier teams - including that big win over Denver - they’ve struggled to take care of business against teams lower in the standings. Before falling to Sacramento, they had dropped games to New Orleans (who shared the same record as the Kings at the time), Dallas, and Utah - all teams sitting outside the playoff picture.
It’s becoming a pattern. And in a loaded Western Conference, where every win matters and tiebreakers can decide postseason fates, these kinds of losses sting a little more.
This was Houston’s third overtime loss in four games - a stretch that underscores both their potential and their inconsistency. They’re clearly talented enough to hang with anyone in the league, but closing out games and maintaining focus against teams they’re “supposed” to beat remains a hurdle.
Now sitting sixth in the West, the Rockets have little room for error. With another matchup looming against a struggling LA Clippers squad, Udoka is hoping his message hits home. This team has shown flashes of being a legitimate playoff threat - but to get there, they’ll have to bring the same intensity against every opponent, not just the big names.
For now, the lesson is clear: in the NBA, there are no guaranteed wins. And if the Rockets want to be taken seriously come spring, they’ll need to stop playing down to their competition.