The Kings just beat OKC twice in a row, and it's time to see our friends, the Clippers, again. This time no close match, but Hector decided to show that he was now one of the best at his position in the league.
Unfortunately, Hector is aggressive tonight. Depending on the shape of the game, Hector may turn into a scorer who makes the whole league shiver; tonight is an example of that.
Keegan Murray was the first to score for the Kings, followed by George for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is not playing tonight, so he is particularly expected. The Clippers also have to fight for the playoffs and their places, although comfortable is not assured.
But it's Hector who's going to put on a show and destroy the Clippers. He missed his first layup but struggled to recover the offensive rebound and finish with a tip shot. Following a basket by Eric Gordon, Hector will be after a pick-and-roll with Fox.
One possession later, after a missed shot by Hector, he again got an offensive rebound and ended with a hook shot. Later, he receives a ball in the corner. Hector is an underrated 3-point threat in the league. But he didn't shoot and made a feint. Plumlee jumped.
The access being accessible to the basket, he uses his time effectively and concludes an easy layup. On the next possession, he blocked a layup from George from behind, who didn't see it coming. Murray recovered the rebound and gave the ball to Fox, who drove and finished with a ferocious dunk.
The Golden 1 Center is boiling as usual, and the Clippers have no choice but to call a timeout as the Kings heat up.
After the timeout, the Kings continue to put the pressure on. Hector initiates a screen, and Murray sneaks behind to cut to the basket. Huerter has seen it and will send an alley-oop for Murray. Westbrook will make a bad pass, then. Fox and Hector are a duo with multiple equations in pick and roll.
This time, after a pick and roll, Hector will not cut inside but stay on the free throw line. Free, he receives the ball. It is one of his favorite spots and rarely misses; this shot is no exception.
The Clippers came back to life with five straight points and came back to 12-16. It is an anomaly, but since the beginning of the game, no 3-point shot has been made, and it is Monk will succeed first of his entry into play on an assist from Fox.
Fox, as a qualified particle accelerator, will logically accelerate. First, with a layup at the speed of the wind, Paul George is responsible for answering him immediately after. And finally, with an assist on a pick and roll with Murray.
Paul George does what he can on his side with a tough shot in Barnes' face first. Then he will cause a foul from Hector and get two free throws. Hector goes off the field, but it's not his problem. He converted both of his free throws.
Monk and Huerter were responsible for calming the Clippers with layups. But time will flow, and the Clippers will finish the quarter only one point behind the Kings, who lead 29-30. At the beginning of the second quarter, they will start the race in the lead. It is too much for Ewing, who puts Hector back on the field.
They say that when the cat is not there, the mice dance. This is precisely the case here, and when "the cat" Hector is back, it's not the same. First, a mid-range shot, then a foul, and two free throws were obtained. It is more than 90% this season, as much to say it is a gift.
He finds himself with his back to the basket with Batum behind him. Seeing the advantage of size and weight, he intimidates him with "Bully Back Down." Once close enough to the rim, one turned around and placed the ball in the rim. Too fast for Batum, who also committed a foul to prevent scoring, but it is a and 1 for Hector.
He will succeed in his throw and calm down a little. Time passes, and the Clippers are still in the game, not far behind 39-45, but Hector restarts the machine.
He receives the ball from Murray and makes a quick spin directly, and the defender is caught without being able to do anything to prevent him from scoring. Then he concludes the layup on pick and roll initiated by Fox. Then re-offend for the same result.
Hector missed a free throw with two minutes left in the first half. But the second is successful. Fox will score 5 points in a row, and Hector will drive the nail in this first half. He will beat Plumlee in the low post with a nice up and under and the and 1 in addition. Then will launch his usual daggers from the mid-range on a pick-and-roll with Fox.
The quarter came together with a score of 53-67 for the Kings, and given how Hector is at the pool tonight, it's hard to see how the Clippers will stop him.