In this clash between two teams in fragile health, the Kings (15v-19d) have a second victory in a row since the dismissal of Mike Brown. This success bears the mark of a great De’Aaron Foxauthor of 35 points with an excellent 13/16 on shots, and above all a huge fourth quarter, where the match swung in favor of the locals (113-107), against the deprived Sixers (13v-18d) by Joel Embiid.
While his team, deprived of Keegan Murray, was trailing by 9 points (80-89) at the start of this last period, the playmaker made his “floater” speak at the heart of the racket, against which the presence by Andre Drummond didn’t have much effect. Author of a winning basket at the buzzer earlier in the match, to equalize at the break (57-57), De’Aaron Fox allowed the Kings to hang on.
Still 9 points behind with four minutes to go
But the Sixers, carried by Tyrese Maxey in this last minute, and the contribution of a few men from the bench including Eric Gordon, resisted. With less than four minutes remaining, this 9-point gap (98-107) still stood. Paul George? Author of a great first period with 20 points, he almost did not exist in the debates at the end.
Despite the discomfort of the situation, the Kings were able to catch up. In support of De’Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis converted an important winning shot in money time, then DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk, after big defensive sequences, reached the circle to restore the advantage to their team. The Sixers, for their part, messed up their basketball in the final moments and were not able to respond. The Kings signed a 15-0 to end the match!
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– A royal defense in the finale. The Kings’ defense had a lot to do with the Kings’ winning finish. We think in particular of this incredible two-handed catch three minutes from the end by Domantas Sabonis and Keon Ellis which pushed Paul George to isolate himself to the halfway line before having to be forced to release a ball easily stolen by Trey Lyles . On the next possession, “PG” was again caught at two: the Sixers were penalized for a 24-second violation. We can still cite DeRozan’s interception in front of Maxey at the head of the racket, the same DeRozan will intercept the ball on the throw-in from his friend Kyle Lowry in the final seconds. The visitors did not score in the last three minutes and thirty seconds of the match.
– Paul George finds himself. Despite the end of their series of four straight victories, the Sixers can be satisfied with having found a very high level “PG”, especially in the first period. The winger blackened the sheet and reached the 30-point mark for the second time this season. Big downside to his performance: he didn’t make any impact in the last quarter where he only took one shot. The Kings defense, which muzzled him, had a lot to do with it.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
