It has been a rough stretch for the Kings, who are 1-6 over their last seven games. Four of those losses came at home, where they are 4-7 this season. The Rockets are 10-2 over their last 12 games and have a clean injury report heading into this matchup. They have vastly superior depth, so I like their chances of keeping the Kings in their recent funk.

The litmus test for the Kings was always to be this season, to see if they could sustain the consecutive postseason berths (counting the play-in round last season) and undeniable progress of the past two campaigns. So far, it's a no, as Sacto is floundering at 9-12, a loser in six of seven, and among other things wondering if DeMar DeRozan just isn't a real good fit, at least yet, with the existing personnel. Meanwhile, the Rockets look far more legit, their progress undeniable, a winner in ten of twelve, and getting contributions from everywhere, most recently Fred VanVleet's 38 points in Sunday's exciting 119-116 win over the high-flying Thunder. Note six wins in the last eight on the road for Houston, too. Play Rockets