Thompson scores 27 points and Kings’ win streak reaches 4 games

Kings’ win streak reaches 4 games

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason Thompson had a career-high 27 points and added 11 rebounds for the Sacramento Kings, who won their fourth straight game, defeating the Houston Rockets 109-100 on Friday night.

The previous time the Kings won four consecutive games was late in the 2007-08 season.

Trevor Ariza scored 28 points for the Rockets. Shane Battier had 23 points and Luis Scola had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Beno Udrih had 22 points for the Kings and Tyreke Evans had 20 points. Andres Nocioni added 15 points.

Houston cut the margin to two points several times in the fourth quarter, but the Kings responded with important baskets each time.

Trying to protect a five-point lead, Evans made a long baseline jumper and the next time down the court banked in a jumper from beyond the foul line with the shot clock about to expire, putting the Kings up 107-98 with 52 seconds left.

In the third quarter, the Rockets quickly overcame an 11-point deficit and pulled ahead briefly when Scola scored inside midway through the period. But the Kings used Nocioni’s 3-point play to retake the lead and went into the fourth with an 82-77 advantage.

In a fast-paced opening half, Udrih made four 3-pointers and scored 16 points and Thompson had 14 points for the Kings, who led 63-52 despite struggling with turnovers. Ariza scored 18 points for Houston.

Notes: Ariza had all five of his steals in the first half to tie his career high. … It was the fifth straight double-double for Thompson.