After another loss to Portland at home, the Kings are 0-2, and Hector faces a significant challenge back-to-back. On October 25, the Kings flew to Utah to challenge the Jazz. The Jazz is a playoff team; last year, they finished with a 50-32 record, the fifth-best record in the West, which is honorable, but they lost miserably to the Rockets in the playoffs 1-4.
The main problem for Hector is this guy in front of him. He looks at the number 27 of the Jazz carefully. How can he not recognize the two-time DPOY in the title? Rudy Gobert, also known as Gobzilla. He's been in the NBA All-defensive First Time since 2017 and is probably the best inside defender.
Gobert is going to make a small match. And Gobert will show him what the elite means. From a data point of view, he only put 6pts, 5rbs, and 1blk. But its deterrent is unparalleled in the league. His only block of the match was on a putback attempt by Hector.
The Kings had a catastrophic game with only 81 points scoring only 37% at the Field Goal. 4 fast break points, and 23% 3PT. Disaster. The top scorer was Deadmon with 11 pts and Fox with 9 pts. Hector's 6pts are 2-7 at FG. Everyone has been there.
Hector went to the video analysis room to see his flaws. His attitude pleased most of the players on the team. A rookie who is so eager to learn is rare in the league. But time does not wait, and the Kings receive the Denver Nuggets. And Hector must face his second big challenge. The Nuggets monster is home.
Nikola Jokic is a versatile player: he can play inside and shoot three-pointers successfully. He has an exceptional vision of the game that makes him one of the best playmakers in the league while he is a center, an ability to react and think to the second rarely seen in history.
He is an atypical genius who turned 19.9 pts 10.8reb 7ast.
A potential superstar.
Deadmon is not playing today, so Hector is a starter; tonight will be the first start of his NBA career.
Kings: Fox, Hield, Barnes, Bjelica, and Herrera
Nuggets: Barton, Harris, Murray, Millsap, Jokic
Hector and Jokic jump simultaneously, but Hector gains possession, recovered by Bjelica. Harris scored the first points of the game for Denver. The Kings did not score in the first two minutes; it took Barnes to shoot and cause a foul from Millsap to score the first three points. 4-3.
Jokic provoked Hector, who was pushed to the foul and got the extra free throw because the shot went in. Hector remotivated himself in his head immediately and did not let it happen. But Hector committed a foul while the match started 3 minutes ago.
This is too much for Wharton, who is forced to take Hector off the field. Holmes returns to his place. The Kings led 21-28 at the end of the quarter.