The Sacramento Kings are set for a challenging home encounter against the Houston Rockets tonight, Sunday, December 21, 2025. This marks the second meeting between the two teams this month, with both squads playing on the second night of a demanding back-to-back schedule.
Teams Battle Fatigue and Form
The Houston Rockets arrive with hopes of securing their second consecutive victory. They come off a solid 115-101 win against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. However, their recent form has been inconsistent, with a 2-3 record in their last five games. Notable wins against the Nuggets and Clippers are offset by losses to the Mavericks, Nuggets, and Pelicans.
In stark contrast, the Sacramento Kings are mired in a deep slump. They have lost five straight games and nine of their last ten, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the Western Conference with a dismal 6-22 record. Their latest defeat was a shocking 98-93 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, who were 10-point underdogs. The Kings are currently just half a game behind the 14th-placed New Orleans Pelicans.
Injury Woes and Expected Lineups
Both teams are dealing with significant absences, which will test their squad depth. The Kings' injury list is particularly concerning, ruling out key players.
Sacramento Kings Injury Report:
- Domantas Sabonis - Out (knee)
- Zach LaVine - Out (ankle)
- Drew Eubanks - Out (left thumb fracture)
- Doug McDermott - Day-to-day (knee)
Houston Rockets Injury Report:
- Fred VanVleet - Out (torn ACL)
- Dorian Finney-Smith - Out (ankle)
Given these absences, the expected starting lineups are projected as follows:
Sacramento Kings: PG Russell Westbrook, SG Keon Ellis, SF DeMar DeRozan, PF Keegan Murray, C Maxime Raynaud.
Houston Rockets: PG Amen Thompson, SG Josh Okogie, SF Kevin Durant, PF Jabari Smith Jr., C Alperen Sengun.
Game Details and Prediction
The match is scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. For viewers in India, the game will be available for streaming online.
Broadcast Details: The match will be aired on the Space City Home Network. Online users can catch the live action on Fubo and Peacock.
Tonight's game is a critical juncture for both franchises. The Rockets will look to build momentum on their road trip and avenge their earlier 121-95 loss to the Kings on December 3rd. For the Kings, this is a desperate fight to stop the rot and find a spark to turn their season around. The absence of Sabonis and LaVine places a heavy burden on the remaining starters like DeRozan and Westbrook to deliver a season-changing performance.
The Rockets, with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun leading the charge, appear to be the favourites on paper, especially given the Kings' fragile confidence and lengthy injury list. However, the desperation of a home team fighting for survival in the NBA can never be underestimated. This Western Conference clash promises high drama as both teams battle fatigue and high stakes.
