HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Sacramento Kings seek the first win of
their young season when they travel to Houston and meet the
Rockets on Saturday night at the Toyota Center.
A club that has won at least 55 games each of the last four
seasons, the Kings opened with a pair of road losses against the
Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. They will need a
win Saturday in the final leg of their season-opening Texas tour
to avoid an 0-3 start for the first time since 1997.
Sacramento has been plagued by inconsistency thus far. Point
guard Mike Bibby opened the season with just eight points on
2-of-8 shooting vs. the Mavericks before pouring in a team-high
23 against the Spurs. Conversely, center Brad Miller led the
way with 24 points in the opener but managed just six points
against San Antonio.
Meanwhile, last year's leading scorer, marksman Peja Stojakovic,
has continued a shooting slump that began in last season's
playoffs. He is just 8-of-29 for 27 points through the first
two games.
The Rockets also started out 0-2 for the first time since 1999
but put it all together for an 89-81 win over the Memphis
Grizzlies on Friday. Last season's NBA scoring champion with
the Orlando Magic, Tracy McGrady broke out with 30 points and
nine assists in the win, finishing Houston's three-game road
trip on a high note.
Friday's victory snapped the Rockets' five-game losing streak
dating back to the preseason. But while that slide is history,
the five-game drought vs. the Kings is very much alive.
Houston has not beaten Sacramento since February 2, 2003, losing
all four meetings last season. However, the Rockets own a 32-9
mark vs. the Kings at home since they moved from Kansas City to
Sacramento following the 1985-86 season.
The two teams split a pair of exhibition games in China last
month.




