Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets - News - February 25, 2026

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Alperen Sengun - Chips in 16 points in win Sengun finished Thursday's 113-108 win over Orlando with 16 points (8-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), six rebounds, five assists and one block over 31 minutes.

Impact Sengun put together a modest statline during Thursday's win, though he did lead the Rockets in assists while finishing third in scoring behind Kevin Durant (40 points) and Reed Sheppard (20 points). Sengun has averaged 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steals over 32.4 minutes per game since Feb. 2.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Reed Sheppard - Catches fire in third quarter Sheppard registered 20 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks over 31 minutes during the Rockets' 113-108 win over the Magic on...

Impact Sheppard was moved back to a bench role for Thursday's contest after starting in Tuesday's win over the Kings, when he led the Rockets with 28 points. His removal from the starting lineup didn't impact his play, and he played a key role in the Rockets' comeback victory, with 17 of his 20 points coming in the second half (including 11 points in the third frame to power Houston's 21-0 run). It was Sheppard's eighth 20-plus point game of the season -- two of which have come in as many games -- and he has connected on 49.2 percent of his three-point attempts over his last eight outings while averaging 16.9 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 threes, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks over 27.3 minutes over that span. Jabari Smith suffered a right ankle injury late in the fourth quarter, so Sheppard could take on an expanded role against the Heat on Saturday if the former is unable to play.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Jabari Smith Jr. - Doesn't return Thursday Smith did not return to Thursday's game against the Magic due to a right ankle injury. He finished with 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), one rebound and one assist over 29 minutes in a...

Impact Smith was taken out at the 1:42 mark of the fourth quarter after he rolled his ankle when he stepped on Alperen Sengun's foot. Smith will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury, but it puts him in jeopardy of missing Saturday's game against the Heat, which would be his first absence since Nov. 3. Josh Okogie, Reed Sheppard and Dorian Finney-Smith figure to be the top candidates to enter the Rockets' starting lineup if Smith were to miss time.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Durant - Surpasses major scoring milestone Durant logged 40 points (14-28 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 10-10 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals over 40 minutes during the Rockets' 113-108 win over the Magic on Thursday.

Impact It was a vintage performance out of the 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer, who scored 26 of his game-high 40 points in the second half to propel the Rockets to a come-from-behind victory. Durant's scoring barrage officially moved him 32,006 points in his storied NBA career, and he is within striking distance of passing Michael Jordan (32,292 points) for the fifth-most points in league history. It was also Durant's 431rd career game with 30-plus points, which is tied with Kobe Bryant for fifth most all time. In five games since the All-Star break, Durant has averaged 28.8 points on 53.0 percent shooting along with 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.8 threes, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks over 35.2 minutes per game.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Jabari Smith Jr. - Tweaks right ankle Smith went to the locker room at the 1:42 mark of the fourth quarter in Thursday's game against the Magic due to a right ankle injury, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle report...

Impact Smith appeared to roll his right ankle when he stepped on Alperen Sengun's foot while on defense, and the former was accompanied by medical staff to the locker room. Assuming his night is done, Smith will finish with 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), one rebound and one assist over 29 minutes. Josh Okogie and Reed Sheppard should see more minutes down the stretch.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Devin Carter - Starting Thursday Carter is in the starting lineup for Thursday's matchup with the Mavericks, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reports.

Impact Carter is getting a spot-start with Russell Westbrook (thigh) unavailable, and he'll be joined in the first unit by Nique Clifford, DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa and Maxime Raynaud. In Carter's previous start this season, he finished with 19 points, five boards, four dimes, one triple and one block, so he makes sense as a streaming option.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Nique Clifford - Enters starting five Clifford is in the Kings' starting lineup against the Mavericks on Thursday, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reports.

Impact Clifford and Devin Carter will both move into the Kings' starting lineup due to the absences of Keegan Murray (ankle) and Russell Westbrook (thigh). It will be Clifford's 11th start of the season, and as a starter, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 threes and 1.3 steals over 31.9 minutes per game.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

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