The long-awaited finals from all over the world at the whistle of the referee who threw the ball high into the sky.
Hector and Porzingis fight to get the ball back, but Hector is a bug in the league. His vertical release coupled with his size are incredible, the Kings always win the first ball. This is a truth and there is nothing Porzingis can do about it.
The Kings and Celtics only play each other twice a season, they are unfamiliar and there is no trade between the two teams. The Kings' plan is simple: Offend! The Kings' strike force has no equal in the league, it would be criminal not to take advantage of it.
"Herrera gets the ball." Hector isn't too active at the beginning of the scoring game, there's a reason his nickname is "The Error": No matter what opponent's game plan is, no one knows how Hector will play a game. He can finish five by five, triple-double, 20 rebounds or scorer. The margin of error is wide.
The movement of the Sacramento players freed up space and it was Terry who received Hector's pass and three-point shot. 5-5 ! Dalen Terry is a cheeky young man in the prime of his life, he will receive an assist from Fox for another three-pointer.
Derrick White was extended by the Celtics last year and scored a layup.
Hector scored his first points in the NBA Finals. It was a finger roll performed after a pick and roll with Terry. One of the Celtics' stars, Jaylen Brown, stepped up with a three-pointer. Then after a Fox dunk served on a platter by Hector, Brown managed to answer him.
But what is the other Celtics star doing? He drew a foul shot on Fox who got two free throws. He made both but Jaylen Brown was active and also made two free throws he made.
Porzingis is one of the few players taller than Hector in the NBA. But before his injuries with the Knicks, he had a similar size to Hector. But that was before his injuries, the current Porzingis can't stop him and Hector knows it.
He receives Barnes' ball and accelerates directly towards the rim. Porzingis was caught off guard and drew the crowd to prevent Hector from scoring too easily. But...
"Herrera with the foul! Porzingis is too naïve about this. He does not know that Hector is a specialist in this field? He'd rather leave the layup than send Hector with a bonus free throw! »
As Doc Rivers said, Hector is historically good at free throws. To say that he is already one of the best free throw shooters in history would not be a lie if we talk about efficiency, thank you system! He's not going to be missing here and the Kings are going to take the Celtics out of the way.
Keegan Murray had three-pointers and a driving layup by Terry gave the Kings a 7-point lead. De'Aaron Fox scored three straight points and then Hector in the left post with a fadeaway and the Kings led 16-26!
The Celtics caught off guard by the Kings' counterattacks can't afford to give up in the first quarter and a three-point jumper will stop the bleeding but to get back in the game, you need the Kings' agreement.
Obviously, the Kings will not agree and Hector with a three pointer in transition makes it known.
Jalen Brown carried the Celtics into the first quarter as Keegan Murray invested to limit Jason Tatum as best he could. Ewing's goal is obvious: Can Jaylen beat the Kings on your own?
After that, no one can shutdown a player of Tatum's caliber but hinder him as much as possible with each shot while maintaining the pressure. It's a way to prevent an incredible scorer from scoring but with Tatum's personal talent, it's impossible to stop him.
Jaylen Brown is doing a good job so far and is doing a pullup jumper. It is obvious that Boston in this game does not have a way to prevent the Kings from scoring and Hector does not take the lead. Instead of rushing your head down to the basket and having to face Boston's rim protection, the simplest ways are often the best.
He received the ball after a pick and roll between him and Keegan Murray then advanced to the basket and made a driving floater. A minute later, he scored two free throws before giving up his place to Moses Brown.
The Celtics will put back a little punch but the gap at the end of the first quarter is final. Sacramento leads 28-37!