HOUSTON, March 28 (Ticker) -- If only the Sacramento Kings could always play defense like this.

Chris Webber scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack and the Kings held the Houston Rockets without a basket for nearly 10 minutes during a stretch of the second half en route to an easy 101-74 victory.

Armed with plenty of firepower on the offensive end, the Kings have their troubles on the defensive end and that usually leaves them coming up a short in the postseason.

On Thursday, the Kings matched their best defensive effort of the season as they limited the Rockets to a franchise record-low 29.9 percent (26-of-87) shooting and 34-second half points. The old record came January 12, 1968, when the San Diego Rockets shot 30 percent (33-of-110) against St. Louis.

NBA TV highlights from Kings-Rockets: 56k | 300k Doug Christie scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half before giving way to the bench. Bill Baptist NBAE/Getty Images

"We were horrible. I thought we had more fight than that," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Our communication was horrible and we just couldn't get the ball in the hole. It was the worst shooting night I have ever seen.

"Those aren't the guys I've had all year. It left a real bad taste in my mouth about this one. They always compete, but it was different tonight."

A three-point play by Jason Collier with 5:10 left in the third quarter pulled the Rockets within 66-56. But they did not score from the field again until rookie Eddie Griffin made a runner with 7 1/2 minutes left, when they were trailing, 89-63.

Doug Christie added 14 of his 17 points in the first half for Sacramento, which beat the Rockets for the eighth straight time while opening a 1 1/2-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Kenny Thomas had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.

The Kings led the entire way and were ahead by six points just past the midway point of the second quarter before widening the margin with an 11-0 run.

Vlade Divac made a foul shot with five minutes left before intermission and Bobby Jackson sank a jumper, triggering the burst. A pair of foul shots by Mike Bibby capped the surge and gave the Kings a 53-36 advantage. The Rockets scored the final four points of the half.

Jackson finished with 14 points and Divac and Bibby each had 13 for the Kings, who placed five players in double figures and shot 45 percent (41-of-91) while also holding a 58-50 rebounding advantage. Divac, Webber and Jackson each had nine rebounds.

"That's why we have been playing pretty good the last couple of weeks," Divac said. "Tonight we took care of business. We came out and jumped on them early."

Houston got as close as 61-52 with 7:23 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Cuttino Mobley, who scored 19 points.

After Collier's basket with 5:10 left in the period, the Rockets missed their final five shots of the quarter and first 10 of the fourth.

"I don't know what to tell you (media)," Mobley said. "We played a bad game. It's a loss, but it's a big-time loss. That's all it is."