Chapter 140: Error 140
Hector is on the field begin the last quarter. Nobody plays 48 minutes per game like before, and rest is as important as being on the field. But after a 3-pointer from Doncic and then a layup from rookie Maxwell, he had to take matters into his own hands.
He will allow Fox to make a small floater and then block a shot from Maxence-Prosper. He receives the ball from Fox and makes a long 2s on a pick and bland. Then he gets the ball in the post and shoots without wasting time.
He will commit a foul on Lively, who converts his two free throws. But he grabbed the offensive rebound on a missed shot by Vezenkov. But rather than shoot, he performed a fake pump but made a no-look pass for Freddie Dillone, who cut to the rim and concluded with a dunk.
The Kings are still leading, but their collective confidence is so high they can afford it. But Maxence-Prosper will quickly calm the Kings with a 3-pointer and a stupid crowd that turns this possession into 4 points if the free throw is successful, which he will not miss.
Freddie accelerates and makes a driving layup in transition when he receives the ball from Fox. Lively misses his 3-pointer, and Isaac recovers the rebound and gives the ball to Hector. He was not in a hurry and took his time.
Seeing Lively defending him, he asked for isolation and went to the low post. A series of bully backdowns and a dizzying up and under are enough to score. The Kings managed to force a traveling by Doncic and regained possession.
After a well-made play call, Jonathan Isaac missed his layup, but Hector recovered the offensive rebound and made a fake. Lively being forced to jump to avoid a layup is positioned where Hector wants it, and Hector, a specialist in this field, draws a crowd.
He couldn't get the +1, and the shot was missed, but Lively had one more crowd. No need to hope that he misses his free throws; he may miss some, but we are talking about someone who has only missed one free throw this season.
Josh Okogie, now in Dallas, launches a 3-point missile hoping to calm everyone down. After a Kings timeout, Vezenkov assisted Hector for a layup. Hector grabbed a defensive rebound, accelerated in transition, and returned the assist to Vezenkov alone in the 3-point corner.
The Kings are back in front with a Golden 1 Center as loyal as ever. It's filled during the Kings' off-peak, and now that the team is chaining seasons with a positive record, enthusiasm has returned to Sacramento.
Doncic disagrees and makes a 3-pointer in wrestling and shooting, assisted by Markelle Fultz, also with the Mavs. He will follow with a floater. Keegan Murray is back on the field and makes a layup.
Keegan Murray is the Kings' third-leading scorer behind Hector and De'Aaron. He's the one who guards the individual forward scorers, while Hector is the mainstay of the Kings' collective defense. Unlike two years earlier, the Kings' defensive system is to make good defenders.
The only defensive black holes were traded. Contrary to what we think, this team has become balanced, whether it is the starting five or the bench with Jonathan, who could claim an All-NBA Defensive Team without his injuries.
TJ McConnell and Colby Jones are good defenders, and the others are decent. Anyway, back to the game.
Hector has fun painting the Mavs. He grabs another offensive rebound and draws a shooting foul. He converted both of his free throws. Malik pull-up in the mid-range, and Hector causes free throws. Both are successful.
But three straight Mavs layups disrupted Sacramento and McConnell at the 3-point buzzer, putting the Kings ahead and leading 88-90.
Hector is not present for the resumption, but Vezenkov is there and makes a 3-pointer. Duarte also hit his 3-pointer and got the bonus free throw. Malik Monk goes up to the dunk. The Kings' bench does its job and puts the Kings in a favorable position.
The game is no longer the same despite a shot by Lively following Hector's return to the field. A shot from Monk, then a technical free throw from Vezenkov, and another from Hector. The Kings will follow.
Despite Maxence-Prosper's 3-pointer, Jonathan Isaac responded with his missile, and De'Aaron Fox completed two driving relieves. Then Hector makes an assist to Vezenkov's 3-pointer. Sacramento was 20 points behind Dallas, but Fox followed up with a midrange jumper.
The Mavs made two free throws, but Duarte added 3-pointers, and Hector finished the layup after a feint and got the +1. Dallas took out its starters, and after Hector's alley-oop dunk, the game was over for him.
Ultimately, the Kings won by a score of 114-131. Hector had 30 points and 15 rebounds, including 8 offensive rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Vezenkov's 21 points helped.
The Kings have a 6-2 record. Fine in the West, as a close friend of Hector put it.
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