The score was 42-40 after a free throw by Brunson. The Knicks have regained momentum, so Hector aims to fix the situation. He receives the ball at the post and makes a feint of shooting immediately after receiving it. Hartenstein bit and saw the path of the layup open.
Brunson responded with a driving floater that Murray almost blocked. The next possession, Hector still in the post, makes a bully back down on Hartenstein and finishes with a drop-step. He was totally in control and did not forget to provoke a foul and get a bonus free throw.
Seeing Hartenstein, he remembers his Summer League debut. He was very frail at that time and had trouble moving Hartenstein. Now he doesn't even have to worry about players with a similar profile.
"I've evolved," he thought. Time flies in the NBA. We don't realize it, but a guy like Giannis will do his 10th season in the NBA while we have the impression that he is still young. This is his fifth season in the NBA.
A touch of nostalgia suddenly passed through him. But he stayed focused on converting his free throw. After a missed shot on his part, he once again stole a ball and threw Fox in transition.
Quentin Grimes will answer with a layup. Hector, still in the plots, will shoot from the mid-range. It was not a feint this time. The clock went on, and halftime ended with a score of 53-51 for the Kings.
RJ Barrett and Hector pulled out the big game to the delight of the fans who attended the game. Without both, this match would have been a purge. After a well-deserved break, both teams are back on the front.
And Randle put the Knicks back in front with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter. Vezenkov responds with a 3-point missile too.
Brunson will score 4 points in a row, and Fox will immediately calm the beginning of euphoria. Huerter serves Murray, lonely in the corner, that makes a 3-point jump shot. Hector will also make a 3-pointer from the logo. It's very rare coming from him and making an assist for Murray.
He will allow himself to steal a ball but will miss his pass, which DiVincenzo will intercept, who will conclude the dunk. Grimes will also score, with Hector receiving the ball in the post. He asks for insulation.
He finds himself alone against Randle with a noticeable size advantage. Instead of playing back-to-basketball, he goes head-on. His goal is to attempt a shot he has developed. Randle isn't going to understand what's happening, and neither are the fans.
Once he received and controlled the ball, he switched hands behind his back while avoiding Randle to have an open shot. Hector knows there is no such thing as traveling, and the referees know it too. Fans are crying foul, the Knicks have asked for video refereeing, but the result is the same.
Hector will not do much more in the quarter, ending with a slight lead of the Kings, 79-76.
Barrett and Brunson, in the fourth quarter, took matters into their own hands. A missile from Barrett and Brunson's assist for Hart invisible so far puts the teams back on track. Barrett, still unstoppable, will again perform a 3-point jump shot.
Fox will hit a mid-range, but Brunson will respond similarly, and Barrett will punish the Kings with a 3-pointer in the corner this time.
Hector will once again cause free throws, and it is Robinson who is fooled. Both are successful, and Fox will conclude a driving layup at the speed of light. The Kings are leading 88-91, and Barrett tonight doesn't give a shit—another 3-pointer for him.
Fox will use his speed to provoke a shooting foul of Barrett. He will succeed in his free throw but immediately send Brunson on the line. He's only going to hit one throw. Barrett is in unplayable mode. His teammates know it. Hartenstein will beat Hector on the rebound and pass the ball to him. Barrett pulls in straight, and Knicks fans exult.
The crowd takes up MVP chants. And the helpless Kings will lose 97-108 despite Hector's 31 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals and 1 block. Barrett's 39 points, along with Randle and Brunson's 24 and 21. Both have 7 assists.
The Kings' starters all exceeded 10 points, but the Knicks destroyed the bench'. The Kings have a 1-1 record, but it's anecdotal at this stage of the season.