Houston Roundball Review Archive: February 2007 Rockets edge Kings by five in Overtime

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Tuesday night at Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets won a game without playing their 'A' game.

The Rockets (33-18) defeated the Sacramento Kings (22-28) 109 to 104 in overtime despite being outplayed for much of the ball game.

The first quarter went back-and-forth as the game was tied four times and the lead changed hands three other times.

Sacramento led 25 to 22 at the end of the first period.

Kings' forward Ron Artest scored seven points during the period followed by six points from former Rockets' forward Kenny Thomas.

During the first part of the second quarter, the quicker Kings exploited the Rockets poor perimeter defense and built a twelve point lead (45 - 33) with 5:44 left in the period.

However, Rockets guard Rafer Alston scored nine points during a 21 to 8 closing burst to give the Rockets a 54 to 51 halftime lead.

Shane Battier scored 12 points in the first half; Alston and Tracy McGrady each added 11 points.

T-Mac also dished nine first-half assists.

Artest and Kevin Martin scored 15 points each for the Kings in the first half.

With a 58 to 53 lead early in the third quarter, the Rockets offense went ice cold and the Kings went on an 11 to 0 run to lead 64 t0 58 with 7:51 left in the third period.

The Rockets bounced back to tie the game at 75 on a reverse lay-up by Juwan Howard with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.

However, the Kings' Corliss Williamson scored five points to end the period and put the Kings ahead 80 to 77 at the end of three quarters.

Williamson and thomas scored lay-ups to begin the fourth quarter which put the Rockets in a seven point deficit (84 - 77) with 10:45 left in the fourth.

With the Kings leading 87 - 81 at the 9:04 mark, neither team scored until Luther Head banked in a 10-foot jumper at the 6:45 mark.

The Kings' drought continued until Artest scored a driving lay-up with 5:20 left on the game clock.

The lay-up gave the Kings a lead of 89 - 83.

Artest added a free throw and a 17-foot jumper to put the Kings up by nine with 4:36 remaining.

Then, Tracy McGrady became T-Mac!

First, McGrady drained a 25-foot three to pull the Rockets within six.

Next, T-Mac hit a 19-f00t jump shot to trim the Kings' lead to 92 to 88.

Sacramento failed to score on its next possession; and, after Bonzi Wells hit two free throws to pull Houston within two (92-90).

T-Mac banked in a 25-foot three point shot to put the Rockets ahead by one point (93-92) at the 2:38 mark of the fourth period.

Sacramento failed to score on three more possessions; and, after the third miss, T-Mac swished a 20-foot jumper to give the Rockets a 95 to 92 lead with just 1:20 left in the quarter.

Artest scored on a driving lay-up; but, McGrady answered with a driving lay-up of his own.

Artest tied the game with a step back three-point shot in front of Shane Battier.

Following a timeout by the Rockets, Luther Head passed up a shot and threw the ball Chuck Hayes; however, Hayes was stripped of the ball by Artest with 24.9 seconds remaining.

The Kings called time-out to set up a final play; however, after dribbling most of the game clock down; Artest turned the ball over without getting off a shot. Overtime.

Alston began the overtime with a three-pointer; but, Mike Bibby hit a three to tie the game at 100.

Following two minutes of non-scoring, Kevin Martin gave the Kings the lead with a 19-foot jump shot.

Battier put the Rockets ahead with a three-point shot with 2:12 left in the overtime.

Artest hit two free throws; but, McGrady gave the Rockets the lead for good with a tough fade away jump shot over Artest's outstretched hand.

After Bibby missed a three point shot, Luther Head converted a difficult driving lay-up to give Houston a 107 to 104 lead.

Then, Head forced a turnover by John Salmons; and, Luther hit two free throws for the final score.

McGrady finished the game with 28 points and 12 assists.

Artest tied his career-high with 39 points.

Chuck Hayes grabbed 14 rebounds. Battier added 25 points and eight rebounds.

Tonight's win by the Rockets is the first time this season the Rockets have come back to win a game when trailing after three quarters.

Houston 's record now stands at 1-13 when trailing after three periods this season.

Rockets 109, Kings 104.

Rockets' post-game remarks --

JVG: "...seduced by our record..."

Shane Battier: "...a lot of teams fold..."

T-Mac: "...it was going to be our game..."

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