HOUSTON -- The Rockets delivered the type of defensive performance on Monday night against the Nets that left them scoffing for only so long, one chalked up to a lack of focus that sometimes accompanies the rigors of a grueling 82-game schedule.Even after the Nets torched the Rockets for 75 second-half points on 65.9 percent shooting and 68 points in the paint, Houston entered Tuesday ranked fifth in the NBA in the month of December with a 99.4 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions).The Rockets defense had been exceptional for the most part as they won their first six games this month, so after they improved to 7-0 in December with their 122-118 victory, the Rockets didnt spend too much time lamenting the defense.It was one of those games, but once again we will count it, Rockets guard James Harden said. We will use it and just watch film and try to get better.There are 82 games and every game isnt going to be perfect. Youve got to figure out ways to win and thats what we did.That the Rockets (18-7), who will host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Toyota Center, can sidestep one hiccup and point to their defensive improvement represents a significant positive. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA this month in offensive rating (112.9) and second to the Toronto Raptors in net rating (13.4).And, after spending most of the first month attempting to play at a faster pace to better augment their high-powered offense, the Rockets have done exactly that thus far in December. The Nets entered Tuesday leading the league in pace for December at 104.7 possessions per 48 minutes. The Rockets were second at 103.0.That macro view allows the Rockets room to disregard a bad night at the office defensively. Lessons were learned, but Houston didnt marinate too long on the bad stuff.Every night is not going to be pretty. Every night is not going to be easy, said Rockets guard Patrick Beverley. We enjoy games like this because we can learn from it.The Kings (9-15) won for just the second time in seven games on Monday night, blasting the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 116-92.The victory came at a cost, however, with guard Ben McLemore (left quad) and forward Rudy Gay (right hip flexor) landing on the injured list. Both were listed as day-to-day on Tuesday. The Kings recalled rookies Skal Labissiere and Malachi Richardson from D-league affiliate Reno to add bodies to their roster in advance of their second meeting with Houston.The Kings allowed an NBA-record 50 3-point attempts in their 117-104 home loss to Houston on Nov. 25. While the Rockets lead the league in 3-pointers per game (14.2) and 3-point attempts (37.4), the Kings are allowing 10.5 3-pointers per game.Those numbers alone are foreboding for the Kings. That Houston has made at least 10 3-pointers in an NBA-record 24 consecutive games represents a greater concern.Were not defending the basketball very well, Kings coach Dave Joerger said to the Sacramento Bee. So when we reach or we gamble ... it always seems like somebodys open. Those are the shots you practice. You get open 3s, youve got to knock them down, and thats what teams have done. Cheap Nike Vapormax Canada . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Cheap Nike Vapormax Sale . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. http://www.vapormaxcanada.com/ .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Nike Vapormax Canada Sale . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Nike Vapormax Canada . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Phil Kessel returned to work Friday hoping to talk about his blessedly short summer after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup in June.Instead, the forward ended up walking back a critical tweet about Team USA following its disappointing performance in the World Cup of Hockey. Kessel, the leading scorer for the Americans during the 2014 Winter Olympics, was not invited to join this time. While he said all the right things last spring after getting passed over, his frustration bubbled up while watching the U.S. lose to Canada on Tuesday.Just sitting around the house tonight w/my dog, Kessel posted on his account. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldnt put my finger on it.Kessel didnt delete the tweet even after some members of the U.S. team took exception. But he made it clear on Friday -- as the Penguins reported for training camp -- that it wasnt a personal attack on the group, which went winless in three games and failed to advance to the medal round.Obviously I meant no disrespect to any of the players, Kessel said. I have a ton of respect for all those guys there. I played with a lot of those guys. Theyre great players and great guys. I know this game is hard. I know its not an easy one to play.Kessel said he would rather focus on the 2016-17 season as the Penguins try to become the first team in nearly 20 years to repeat as champs. Hell spend the early days of camp seeing how his surgically repaired hand is responding after undergoing a minor procedure in July.Just going to take some time here, he said. Just kind of get back into it.Pittsburghs summer lasted all of 103 days, barely enough time to make sure everyone involved with the teams six-game victory over San Jose in the Stanley Cup finals got to enjoy some one-on-one time with their sports most valuable hardware.Its like we never left each other, defenseman Trevorr Daley said.dddddddddddd. Looking around, didnt we just see each other the other day?Not that Daley is complaining. Theres a sweet reason for the short break, after all.Were the champs, obviously, Daley said with a laugh.Champs who insist theyre just as hungry as they were last spring, when they raced through the playoffs behind a mixture of speed, grit and the precocious goaltending of rookie Matt Murray. Pittsburgh did little to mess with its formula in free agency, keeping the core intact for what it hopes is another season that bleeds from spring until the edge of summer.Coach Mike Sullivan, however, is taking great pains during camp to keep his squad from getting complacent. He divvied the players into three groups hoping to keep things fresh.I think we have competitive guys by nature, Sullivan said. I think they like to compete. Its our job as coaches to put them in an environment where theyre allowed to compete. It took a lot of players for us to go through the playoff run that we did.Captain Sidney Crosby and center Evgeni Malkin are still in Toronto competing for their native countries in the World Cup. The two will meet in the semifinals on Saturday and are unlikely to return to their regular gig until the middle of next week. Their absence, however, will give others an opportunity to impress Sullivan and the rest of the coaching staff.Whats exciting from our standpoint is that we have the type of depth that we have and we have players that are competing for jobs, literally, Sullivan said. Thats going to keep everyone at their best. That internal competition is a critical component to drive our team to the level that it was at last year.Pittsburgh opens the preseason on Tuesday in Detroit. The Penguins exhibition home opener is next Friday against Chicago. ' ' '