For a second time in four days, the Rockets (17-9) blew a second-half lead of at least 14 points to a team with six-or-fewer wins entering the game.

For a second time in four days, the Houston Rockets blew a second-half lead of at least 14 points to a team with six-or-fewer wins entering the game. For a third time in December, they lost on night two of a road back-to-back to a team most expect to be in the 2026 NBA draft lottery.

On the heels of similar December losses at New Orleans (7-22), Utah (10-17), and Dallas (11-18), the Rockets fell in Sunday’s overtime to the Sacramento Kings, 125-124 (box score).

The Kings (7-22) remain tied for last place in the Western Conference, while the Rockets (17-9) slipped to sixth place after another embarrassing defeat. Houston is now 4-5 in December.

After missing 14 games with oblique and leg issues, fourth-year forward Tari Eason returned and scored 16 points in 16 minutes while making 6-of-8 shots (75.0%), including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. However, he helped off Dennis Schroder on the decisive possession of overtime, leading to the game-deciding trey.

Key individual statistics included:

  • Alperen Sengun: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks; 12-of-17 shooting (70.6%)
  • Kevin Durant: 24 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists; 8-of-21 shooting (38.1%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 18 points, 5 rebounds; 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%)
  • Amen Thompson: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals; 7-of-10 shooting (70.0%)
  • Keegan Murray (Kings): 26 points, 4 rebounds; 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), 3-of-4 on 3-pointers (75.0%)
  • DeMar DeRozan (Kings): 27 points, 9 assists; 9-of-17 shooting (52.9%), 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%)
  • Russell Westbrook (Kings): 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; 5-of-12 on 3-pointers (41.7%)
  • Dennis Schroder (Kings): 24 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%), 7-of-8 on free throws (87.5%)
  • Maxime Raynaud (Kings): 12 points, 14 rebounds; 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%)

The Kings entered as the NBA’s worst rebounding team, and the Rockets rank No. 1 in the league. Yet, Sacramento won the rebounding battle, as Steven Adams (rest) sat out for maintenance considerations due to it being night two of the back-to-back.

With Sunday’s result in the books, the Rockets are now two-thirds of their way through a season-long road trip of six games. Their final two are nationally televised showdowns in Los Angeles, starting with Tuesday’s matchup against the Clippers (7-21). In an NBC showcase, tipoff is at 9:30 p.m. Central.

The Rockets will then wrap up the road trip with Thursday’s Christmas night game versus the Lakers (19-8), with tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Central and a national broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

More: After 14-game injury absence, Tari Eason returns to Rockets’ rotation