The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ON October 31, the Sacramento Kings left the court at the Golden 1 Center under a chorus of boos as they surrendered a 14-point, second-half lead to the Charlotte Hornets and fell to 0-5.

Since then, the Kings have overcome injuries to a pair of starters to win five of their last seven games and climb out of the cellar in the Western Conference.

Buddy Hield has been a major part of that resurgence, scoring at least 20 points in each of those games, including a season high 35 as the Kings ended the Boston Celtics’ 10-game winning streak with a 100-99 win Sunday.

“I’m a loud guy on this team so I want my actions, the way I carry myself on and off the court to match that. I have to set an example. When I’m not making shots or playing in high spirits someone will ask ‘what’s wrong with you?’ so I think the team feeds off my energy so I have to keep the right mindset, whether I’m missing or I’m hitting, so bring the right mindset each and everyday. My teammates thrive off of that so that’s big.”

Over the course of the last seven games, Hield has scored a team leading 22.7 points per game and shot 41 per cent from three-point range.

“The last couple games I paid extra attention working on ways to get my shot,” Hield said. “I’ve been just working harder with Igor and Jesse and coach Lou just getting game shot reps because I’m a catch and shoot guy they were trying to tell me to do stuff I’m not comfortable doing, so I started doing more moves off the dribble, full game speed it helped to get my rhythm better for the game. Staying confident, as a shooter that’s the biggest thing. Bogie always says the next shot is the best shot and be locked into that mindset to go out there and compete.”

In the midst of the 0-5 start, the Kings suffered injuries to the 2018 No.2 overall pick Marvin Bagley for 4-6 weeks and De’Aaron Fox, the 2017 No.5 overall pick, is likely out until around the All-Star break.

The Kings’ two losses came at the hands of the defending champions Toronto Raptors and the Western Conference leading Los Angeles Lakers. The two losses were by a combined six points with both coming on the road.

“We’re all locked in and a lot of that is Luke [Walton]. He’s calling out guys and making sure we stay locked in.

“If I mess up he’s calling me out in front of everybody, he’s not pulling me aside. He wants us to take ownership of that and that’s big time from a coach. We have to take it in, go out there and guard somebody and play for the team,” Hield said.

The Kings look to continue their momentum tonight against the Phoenix Suns. It would have been the second meeting this year between Hield and Deandre Ayton, however the second year centre continues to serve a 25-game suspension due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Suns have been one of the league’s early surprises this season with a 7-4 start, including a 125-94 win over the Kings on opening night.

“They’re playing well,” Hield said. “Coach Monty [Williams] has done a great job with them, Devin [Booker] is playing well, Ricky [Rubio] has that team going and they are all playing together as a group. Their record speaks for itself, they’re doing pretty well and we’re up for the challenge.”