The Houston Rockets are set to face the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, but they'll be missing key player Fred VanVleet due to personal reasons. VanVleet has been a significant contributor for the Rockets, averaging 15.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this season. His absence comes as the Rockets continue to thrive, currently holding the second seed in the Western Conference with a strong 27-12 record.

The Rockets are riding high on a five-game winning streak and have been performing well overall with a 7-3 record in their last ten games. Jalen Green leads the team in scoring, while Alperen Sengun dominates the boards. The Kings, on the other hand, sit ninth in the conference at 20-20, having also won seven of their last ten games. They previously triumphed over the Rockets, winning 120-111 last month, with Domantas Sabonis leading the scoring for Sacramento.