SACRAMENTO, Calif. – If the Rockets were trying to show off a bit for the new guy, Iman Shumpert had to be impressed. If the Kings were demonstrating how valuable he had been, the Rockets had to take notice.
Or perhaps, the Rockets showed only that they are still capable of producing one of those offensive nights when they pile up the points and are challenged only by their ability to pay attention when the lead swells to insurmountable.
Hours after the Rockets traded for the Kings' top defensive player, the Rockets completed their road trip with a third-consecutive win, building a 37-point lead just 66 seconds into the second half and then coasted to a 127-101 romp past the Kings.