The Houston Rockets play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.  Tipoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET.  Watch the live stream via the link provided below.

Sacramento (11-11) has struggled in the absence of star DeMarcus Cousins, who's sidelined because of viral meningitis.  The 6-foot-11 center, who leads the team in scoring (23.5 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg), has already missed seven games because of the illness.  Out of those last seven games, Sacramento has lost all but two.

"I think he is the best rebounder in the game, so we definitely miss him," said guard Darren Collison, via ESPN.  "But we have other guys that can play pretty much the same way.  So there's no excuses on our part.  We have guys who can step up and fill that void."

The Kings are coming off a 98-85 loss on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.  Sacramento gave up a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, when they went just 5 of 17 from the field.

"This loss really, really stings," said coach Michael Malone.  "It's a bad loss.  For us to have the lead and play as well as we did at times, and then just give it all back and not have the poise to handle the adversity down the stretch, it's a tough loss."

Houston is also without their star center, Dwight Howard.  The perennial All-Star has missed 10 games with a strained right knee, according to ESPN.  In those 10 games, the Rockets have fared well, going 7-3 during Howard's absence.

They're four-game winning streak, though, ended Wednesday in a 105-93 loss at Golden State. 

"They're a good team and they broke us down a little bit," said Rockets star James Harden.  "We got too spread out on defense."

Good news for Houston, however: Howard is expected to return on Saturday.

Watch the live stream HERE.