The Golden State Warriors are the dynasty in place. But they lost last season to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals, but they didn't just lose the title. They lost two crucial players: Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Durant is one of the best forwards in the league offensively. He left for the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason, even though he will miss the entire season. Curry is the best 3PT shooter in history and one of the best point guards. And Klay Thompson is one of the best 3PT shooters in history; his duet with Curry is fantastic.
Klay Thomson was seriously injured during the NBA Finals; he will not play this season, and Curry does not play tonight. Draymond Green is the only one who completes the historic trio of the Warriors; he is the only one to be present tonight.
The Warriors' season can be summed up in one word: Catastrophic. They have a record of 5-22; they won so much that it is painful to see them like this.
Sacramento and Golden State are the duels of Northern California. It is often forgotten, but Sacramento is California's state capital; in the NBA, they are in the shadow of the Lakers, the Warriors, and even the Clippers because they are in Los Angeles.
San Francisco, CA
For the Kings, with Fox still absent, Joseph is still leading, along with Hield, Barnes, Bjelica, and Holmes.
The Warriors fielded Lee, Russell, Robinson, Green, and Cauley-Stein.
At 5:30 on the clock, Hector replaced Holmes as usual. The score is 10-11. Hector will make an assist for a layup of Hield. 12-11! 14-14! It will take 2 minutes to see Hector score his first poi-completing making a driving layup after a pick-and-roll.
The Kings are back in front. After Hield gets the ball up, Hector sets up a screen for Bogdanovic to break free at 3PT. But he will commit a foul on Burks, who gets him three free throws; he will put 2 out of 3. Hield knows what is happening and passes the ball to Bogdanovic, who shoots directly at 3PT.
After a rebound by Hector, he made the pass to Barnes, who caused a foul and got two free throws which were both successful. 19-16! The Kings had a reasonable period with two free throws from Bogdanovic, a shot from Hield, and 3 points from Hector, including a dunk after an offensive rebound. Burks shot the Warriors' side, but the Kings are currently ahead 26-18!
At the beginning of the second quarter, Hector found himself in the post-up with Russell; he did not hesitate and took him out of speed to put a layup. The Warriors scored two free throws but 5 points from Bogdanovic and a basket accompanied by a foul from Hector, who put his free throw and increased the gap to 36-20.
The Warriors scored five straight points before Hector walked off the court, replaced by Holmes. It's 36-28 at its exit.
We will not see Hector again in the quarter; the Kings will finish with a 9-point advantage at the end of the quarter and lead 51-42!
Hector makes his match; he puts 10pts 5reb 1ast. We'll see Hector coming into the game with 4:15 left in the quarter, and the Kings are now well ahead 74-51. Until the end of the quarter, Hector will put a dunk on pick and roll with an assist from Bogdanovic, and that's it. It will be 79-59 at the end. The Kings will no longer be worried about the game elsewhere.
I skip the details, but Hector will score 5 points in the last quarter. Quiet victory, the Kings 100-79 against the dynasty that goes freewheeling, as we say at home.
Bogdanovic finished top scorer with 25 points, Hector with 17 pts 6reb and 2ast, Hield with 19 points, and Barnes with 15. The Kings have a record of 12-14, two games below the balance.
Nobody got over 15 points on the Warriors' side, Cauley-Stein scored 14, but the rest was mediocre. The Warriors' already very long season continues at 5-23.