Hector's return couldn't immediately prevent the Kings' clumsiness. It took a minute and a half after he entered the game to score points, and it was free throws from Barnes. Following a dunk by Malik Monk, everything accelerated.
Ja draws a foul and makes both of his free throws. Hector brings the ball back into the opposing camp, Barnes initiates a screen, but he sees Monk cut to the rim and throws an alley-oop in his direction. The defense did not expect it.
Ja Morant sent a pass that came close to Hector, but Tillman managed to receive the ball and hit his shot. No time to lose for Hector, who gets the ball on the free-throw line and does not hesitate to shoot. But the Grizzlies will receive the help of a 3-pointer performed by sophomore Timmy Nelson and two free throws from Ja.
Hector takes advantage of a fake pump to get rid of Aldama and then drives to the basketball but takes advantage of space to make an assist for Monk, alone behind the 3-point line. Vezenkov will get him two free throws.
But after six straight Grizzlies points by Tillman and Bane, De'Aaron, who has just returned, sends a missile from deep. The remaining minute passed, and the Kings led 58-50. The start of the third quarter was not to the Kings' advantage.
Hector is in control today and sends two assists, including one for Fox's 3-pointer. But Desmond Bane will chain two shots in a row. Bane is a player who celebrated his first All-Star Game selection but has been a regular in recent years.
Fox missed his 3-pointer, but Hector recovered the offensive rebound, made a fake, and made his hook without challenge. Ja finds Williams for a 3-pointer. Keegan Murray performs a step back and gets the +1. He converted his free throw, grabbed an offensive rebound, and threw the ball into the basket shortly after.
One 3-pointer from Fox and two free throws from Ja, and the score is currently 72-65. And for a minute in a half, nothing. Only the sound of the ball bouncing in the hoop. Keegan Murray will unlock the situation with a 3-pointer and a driving layup. Hector blocked Williams' dunk, and the Kings returned 72-72.
Williams saw his dunk attempt violently blocked by Hector and took advantage of a pick and roll between Jackson and Ja to receive the ball and perform a floater—a pass from behind to Vezenkov leads to a dunk.
The status quo will remain until the end of the quarter, which will end with a score of 80-80. The Kings will accelerate early in the final quarter. Fox will assist Isaac, who gets the +1. Then Fox will perform a stepback that earns two more points.
Jackson struggled to defeat Hector to score, but 4th quarter Fox was active—a mid-range shot behind a Hector screen. Then Hector grabbed an offensive rebound and passed the ball to Fox, who arrived at full speed but missed his layup but drew the crowd.
Jackson carried Memphis alone, but Fox also hit two shots.
But the Kings' tide is going to be brutal. Keegan Murray on the free throw line, Issac 3-pointers, two offensive rebounds from Hector, a 3-pointer from Fox, an assist from Hector for a 3-pointer from Murray with the crowd as a bonus, and finally a Mexico Step from Hector.
In 4 minutes, the Kings will annihilate any hope of victory for the Grizzlies with a zone defense that has stifled any offense from Memphis. The Kings led 85-107, and the exit of the starters sounded the death knell.
The Kings won 97-113 despite Morant's 27 points and 10 assists. Hector finished with a triple-double: 18 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists, 1stl, and 1blk. Hector is the ruler of the five-by-five but has few triple-doubles in his career, which is paradoxical compared to his playmaking quality.
Keegan Murray was excellent with 26 points and 8 rebounds, and Fox scored 22 points and 9 assists. The Kings' "Big Three" was there.
Hector and Keegan limited Jackson to 10 points, and Bane scored 19, but his ugly 2-7 3-pointer meant the Kings got the job done. 3 out of 3 for the NBA Cup games, Sacramento only has to wait for its opponent for the quarterfinals.