Key Takeaways:
- Dennis Schroder secured a 125-124 win for Sacramento with a decisive 3-pointer, just 2.2 seconds from time on Sunday night
- Sacramento rallied late, overcoming a five-point deficit in the closing moments of regulation to force overtime
- Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. saw his streak of four consecutive double-doubles snapped despite scoring 18 points
Overtime Drama in Sacramento
A thrilling finish at Golden 1 Center saw Dennis Schroder fire home a clutch three-pointer with only 2.2 seconds left in overtime, handing the Sacramento Kings a 125-124 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Schroder, coming off the bench, contributed 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, propelling the Kings to come back from a five-point deficit in the last two minutes of regulation.
FINAL/OT: Kings defeat the Rockets, 125-124.
👑 DeMar DeRozan: 27 PTS, 9 AST
👑 Keegan Murray: 26 PTS, 4 REB
👑 Dennis Schröder: 24 PTS, 10 AST
👑 Russell Westbrook: 21 PTS, 13 REBKings Win presented by @RedHawkCasino pic.twitter.com/Pp4hqukGnL
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 22, 2025
Standout Performances and Key Statistics
DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 27 points and nine assists, while Russell Westbrook chipped in with an impressive 21 points and 13 rebounds. Keegan Murray added 26 points, and Maxime Raynaud registered a double-double with 12 points and 14 boards. The Kings’ late resurgence saw them snap a five-game losing streak.
The Rockets were led by Alperen Sengun, who finished with 28 points and six rebounds. Kevin Durant delivered 24 points and 10 rebounds but was unable to hit the potential game-winner as time expired in the extra period. Jabari Smith Jr., contributing 18 points, saw his streak of four consecutive double-doubles come to an end. Smith’s two free throws with 8 seconds left had placed Houston in front, briefly, at 124-122, before Schroder’s late-game heroics.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Schroder | Kings | 24 | 10 | 7 |
| DeMar DeRozan | Kings | 27 | 4 | 9 |
| Russell Westbrook | Kings | 21 | 13 | 4 |
| Keegan Murray | Kings | 26 | 2 | 4 |
| Maxime Raynaud | Kings | 12 | 14 | 0 |
| Alperen Sengun | Rockets | 28 | 6 | 3 |
| Kevin Durant | Rockets | 24 | 10 | 8 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Rockets | 18 | 5 | 2 |
Game Flow and Turning Points
The match opened with the Rockets on the back foot, trailing by 10 points within the first four minutes of play. However, Houston reasserted themselves in the second quarter, led by Durant and Sengun, who accounted for more than half of the team’s points in that period and powered the Rockets to a 68-57 halftime advantage.
Sacramento staged a late surge in the fourth quarter. After Durant’s pair of free throws put Houston ahead 112-107 with 2:16 left, DeRozan responded with a dunk, and Westbrook connected from the corner to tie the scores. Both sides exchanged leads during overtime, and Westbrook missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining. Following Smith’s critical free throws, DeRozan penetrated the lane and found Schroder open in the left corner, delivering the decisive assist for the game-winning shot.
Next Fixtures
- Rockets: Set to face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Tuesday
- Kings: Scheduled to host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday
