Powell prognosticated before the season started that other players could step up and fill the void left by Paul George. He backed that up by turning into one of the league's premier tough shot-makers. He's hit a scorching 43.5 percent of his 3's this year and come up with some huge buckets to help them to their No. 6 standing in the West.

The All-Star chances of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun teeter on a knife’s edge. There’s one player in particular who’s balancing right there with him.

In Little Caesars Arena, Italian Simone Fontecchio recorded five points, two rebounds, and one block in just under 18 minutes as the Detroit Pistons lost, 111-100, to the Indiana Pacers. Swedish Bobi Klintman remained on a G League assignment.

Alperen Şengün joined the Houston Rockets at the depths of their post-Harden rebuild in the 2021 NBA draft. The 22-year-old center is now an All-Star as Houston rises up the NBA hierarchy. Şengün’s been reaching new heights this season 🚀 Alperen Şengün is an #NBAAllStar! pic.twitter.com/GfTkVUlnKv

DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points and Domantas Sabonis recorded his league-leading 36 th double-double of the season to lead the Kings to a 132-127 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is in his fourth season in the league, and he's beginning to establish himself. While many compare him to Sacramento Kings

DeMar DeRozan gave Sacramento the lead for good with 2:20 remaining, De'Aaron Fox made five free throws amid two controversial calls in the final 33 seconds, and the host Kings hung on to defeat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.

Alperen Sengun received such high commendation from Charles Barkley amid the Rockets' ascent towards the top of the West.

Winning at home has been a big point of emphasis since Christie took over as interim coach of the Kings when Mike Brown was fired in December. The Kings did it again in a Thursday night thriller, beating the Houston Rockets 132-127 before a sellout crowd of 18,227 at Golden 1 Center and a national television audience on TNT.

DeMar DeRozan had 31 points, Malik Monk added 28 points and nine assists and the Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.

Amen Thompson's athleticism and play in his second year has been key for Rockets who have ascended to being one of NBA's top four teams.

They improved to 21-20 with their eighth victory in nine games.Domantas Sabonis had 20 points ... assists and the Sacramento Kings beat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.