Beaten four times in as many outings to start the season, the Kings are already in a hurry and absolutely want to show a convincing face against Miami, to avoid the pass of five.
And while Mike Brown announced before the meeting that the rotation would be shortened to try to provoke a reaction, the starters are taking matters into their own hands. First in the first quarter, by accumulating 26 of their team’s 32 points, then in the second half of the second quarter, by inflicting a 21-6 on the Heat to complete the first period. In summary, after 24 minutes, the Kings planted 71 points on 64% on shots, 56 of which were scored by an excellent quartet of De’Aaron Fox – Kevin Huerter – Keegan Murray – Domantas Sabonis.
The Heat are picking up in attack (16/43), and it is to the credit of the Kings who display a convincing face in defense, and suffer the martyrdom in defense because, in large part, of their size deficit (36 points conceded in the painting). Especially since to make matters worse, Bam Adebayo suffered two quick fouls in the first quarter, which forced Erik Spoelstra to call on… Udonis Haslem, since Omer Yurtseven was unavailable.
At the end of this first one-sided period, there is already a 22-point gap (71-49).
From +22 to +1…
After the break, the dream scenario so far written by the Kings in this meeting nevertheless knows its first hitches. Due in particular to a failed third quarter, which sees the offensive dynamics reversed: the dominated become the dominant since the Heat, in turn, rules near the circle with 16 points in the paint in this third alone deed.
While the Kings, over this same period, lost 9 balls… In total, the men of “Spo” stuck a 33-19 to the Californians and fell back below the 10-point gap before the last act (90-82) .
The turbulence continued in the last act for the Kings, so much so that the disaster scenario was very close when the Heat returned to -1 six minutes from the end of the meeting (101-100), while Domantas Sabonis left the his because of his sixth fault. Under the impetus of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, the Miami troops continue to push very hard… but the Kings hold on. Because the holders find their bite of the first half, after a ghostly third quarter, and mark the baskets necessary to take shelter from this rise of their opponents.
With heart and mind, the Kings, in front of their audience to whom they gave cold sweats, thus offered their first success of the season, after four consecutive losses (119-113). A narrow victory of course, but a good working basis to continue the exercise, finally launched in Sacramento.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A two-speed match. It was not necessary to be heart to follow this meeting, on the side of the fans of the Kings. After a near-perfect first half, which saw Mike Brown’s men register 71 points on 64% on shots and 17 assists in addition to good defense, the spectators at the Golden One Center indeed came close. to be spectators of a terrible effrondremnet on the part of their proteges, unable in the second half to stand up to the awakening of the Heat and to maintain their lead of 22 points. The good news, despite this scare, is that the Kings got away with it when they weren’t doing well last year: the “money-time”. The sign, we hope for this club which seeks its first qualification in the playoffs in 2006, of a collective maturation under the leadership of Steve Kerr’s former assistant.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ The Kings’ major five. Like their team, they got through the third quarter. But for the rest, the incumbents of Mike Brown had everything just. First by registering nearly 80% of their team’s points in the first period, before taking responsibility in the last quarter, when the Heat were a danger that could no longer be ignored. In total, the Kings’ major five scored 95 of 119 points, and was obviously the main factor behind this victory. We will remember the good performance of rookie Keegan Murray, author of 22 points at 8/13 for his second tenure, the heat stroke of Kevin Huerter who converts 7 of his 8 shots attempted behind the arc, or even the “money-time » size boss of De’Aaron Fox, author of decisive baskets at the end of the match and especially of an exemplary defense against a hot Tyler Herro, like embers.
✅ Tyler Herro. Exactly. The back of the Heat was a hit with 34 points, at 13/22 including 5 winning shots. He was the catalyst for his team’s awakening in the second period, and most of the balls came back to him at the end of the match, to try to complete the “comeback”. After two average outings against Portland and Golden State, he got his head back upright. All he needed was victory for a perfect evening.
⛔️ Jimmy Butler. Despite 37 minutes, the Heat leader makes a weak copy in attack, with 13 points on 11 shots. Maybe he voluntarily stepped back, behind his teammates Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, both in a great night, but it was in any case not enough and the Heat would have needed him be more enterprising at the end of the match. Even if he still compiles 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.
⛔️ The Kings’ ball losses. The victory should not make us forget that the Kings lost… 20 balls, including 16 in the second half! It’s far, far too much, and the Californians can thank the Heat for having scored “only” 28 points on these numerous ball losses. Overall, this very sluggish second half for the Kings reminds us that there is still work to do before becoming a team capable of being consistent on offense for 48 minutes. For now, the Kings have only been 24 minutes.
THE FOLLOWING
– Kings : trip to Charlotte, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (00:00)
– Heat : reception of the Warriors, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (00:30)
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