The “Kentucky Boys” hit hard for the Kings’ comeback in the playoffs since De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk had 70 points in the Kings’ win over the Warriors! We could even add Trey Lyles, decisive at the end of the 3rd quarter, to turn the game around.
If Monk was decisive in particular by his free throws in the last seconds, his sidekick held the house throughout the second half, planting 29 of his 38 points after the break. It was he who scored this 3-point so important to respond to Stephen Curry at the start of “money time”, and he had to adapt to all the defenders sent by Steve Kerr: Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins , Donte DiVincenzo, Klay Thompson… By his speed on the first step, his “hang time” and his search for contact with the defender, he was brilliant. On arrival, he therefore signed 38 points at 13 of 27 on shots, with a 4 of 8 at 3-pointers, 5 assists and 3 interceptions.
“Honestly, I thought there would be more Warriors fans than that…Sacramento rose to the occasion tonight”reacted Fox after this first success in the playoffs since April 2006. “Doing it for these fans, knowing how much they’ve supported this team through thick and thin, and there have been tides, is a tribute to their behavior.”
A half to adapt to the pace of the playoffs
The Kings could not have dreamed of a better return to the playoffs in a packed Golden 1 Center, with a crazy scenario, against the neighbors, defending champions. A dream evening for Fox, which signs the 2nd best performance in history for a playoff debut. Only Luka Doncic, with 42 points, was more prolific on his playoff debut.
“It was my first playoff game and I wanted to see what it would be like in terms of physical intensity” he explains. “In the first half, I had to adapt, and in the second half, I found my rhythm, and I found my spots. »
After his post-game interview, Fox was invited to “light the beam” in an incredible atmosphere. Saturday night, we rediscovered the madness of the early 2000s, and Mike Brown knows how important it is in the playoffs to be able to count on a leader who takes responsibility. “We need guys like that on our side because they know we’re going to rely on them. There is no secret. You need guys on your team that can make play and Foxy did that tonight. »
| De’Aaron Fox | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | BAG | 73 | 28 | 41.2 | 30.7 | 72.3 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 11.6 |
| 2018-19 | BAG | 81 | 31 | 45.8 | 37.1 | 72.7 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 17.3 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 51 | 32 | 48.0 | 29.2 | 70.5 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 6.8 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 21.1 |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 35 | 47.7 | 32.2 | 71.9 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 25.2 |
| 2021-22 | BAG | 59 | 35 | 47.3 | 29.7 | 75.0 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 73 | 33 | 51.2 | 32.4 | 78.0 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| Total | 395 | 32 | 47.2 | 32.1 | 73.6 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 20.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
