Sacramento, CA (My Sportsbook) - Jason Thompson had a career-high 27 points and brought down 11 rebounds, as the Kings produced a fourth straight win at the expense of the Rockets, 109-100, at ARCO Arena.

Beno Udrih was 9-of-15 shooting with four three-pointers to post 22 points, and rookie Tyreke Evans continued to make a name for himself by totaling 20 points, six boards and four assists

Andres Nocioni added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who last won four in a row March 30-April 5, 2008, having suffered through a league and franchise-worst 17-65 season last year.

Trevor Ariza was 10-of-21 shooting for 28 points, hit four three-pointers, grabbed six boards, dished five assists and tied a career high with as many steals for Houston, which has dropped two of three.

Shane Battier scored 23 points, and Luis Scola had 20 with nine rebounds in the setback.

Evans and Omri Casspi each hit a runner a short time into the fourth quarter to stretch Sacramento's lead to eight, 87-79.

Battier stroked a pair of threes and added a tip-in to bring the Rockets back to within a possession at 93-91 halfway through, before Udrih and Spencer Hawes strung together baskets for a six-point edge and some breathing room.

The teams traded scores for a brief stretch, and Aaron Brooks and Ariza got to the hoop for two each to make it a 103-98 game with just over two minutes to play.

Evans provided the ultimate daggers, though, with a pull-up jumper and then a desperation bank shot from the top of the key with the shot clock winding down to gain a nine-point lead with under a minute left.

The game was knotted at 30 after 12 minutes, and a 12-3 run -- bolstered by a pair of three-pointers from Udrih -- had the hosts out to a 48-40 lead midway through.

Nocioni's three-ball followed by a Thompson jumper stretched the margin to 11 a short time later.

Scola got a hook shot to drop, and Shane Battier knocked down a three to cut into the lead, but Sacramento scored the next eight points. Two more long distance Udrih buckets had the hosts out to a 14-point advantage before a three-point play by Brooks made it a 63-52 game at the break.

Houston battled back to within one, 66-65, by opening the second half on a 13-3 run. Scola hit a pair of buckets during the surge and sank a hook shot moments later for a 71-70 Rockets lead nearing the five-minute mark.

The Kings were undeterred, though, as Nocioni completed a three-point play and Udrih hit a jump shot to help the hosts hold an 82-77 edge going into the fourth.

Game Notes

Sacramento improved to 3-0 on a four-game homestand which will conclude Tuesday against Chicago...Houston, which will face the Lakers on Sunday, swept the three-game season series against the Kings last season...Brooks scored 10 for the Rockets, while Hawes totaled nine rebounds and six points for Sacramento...Thompson's alma mater, Rider, went on the road and defeated 18th- ranked Mississippi State on Friday in its season opener.