The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Chavano “Buddy” Hield continues to have some of his best games of the season in head-to-head matchups with other Bahamian players.

Hield scored 26 points and added four assists in his Sacramento Kings’ 140- 114 win over Kai Jones and the Charlotte Hornets at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on November 5.

Hield made eight of the Kings’ franchise record 22 three pointers en route to the lopsided win.

Jones played sparingly and the Hornets have continued to sideline their 2021 Draft class thus far this season.

Hield, the six-year veteran guard, got the rookie forward’s attention and both players shared a private moment in the game’s final seconds as teams left the floor.

In his second game of the weekend, Hield followed with 17 points and made five three pointers in last night’s 93-91 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the Golden 1 Center.

On October 27, Hield and the Kings got the better of Deandre Ayton’s Phoenix Suns in the first head-to-head matchup between the two this season.

Both players had season high performances in the Kings’ 110-107 win at the Footprints Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Hield scored 26 points in just 27 minutes. He shot 7-11 from three-point range and grabbed five rebounds with two blocked shots.

Ayton had his first double double of the year with a season high 21 points and tied a career high with 21 rebounds. He also shot an efficient 9-12 from the field. He joined Charles Barkley and Amare Stoudemire as the only Suns players with multiple 20-20 games in the last 30 years.

Ayton missed his second game of the season Saturday night as he continues to recover from a right leg contusion.

The Suns defeated the Hawks 121-117 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Ayton has been in and out of the lineup since he suffered the injury on October 30 in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He missed the following game on October 31 against the New Orleans Pelicans and was listed as day-to-day.

He returned to the lineup on November 4 with 16 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes of a 123- 111 win over the Houston Rockets.

“I think it’s just being cautious,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said. “I don’t want to speak for our medical team, but based on what I know it’s caution.”

The Kings will host the second matchup, against the Suns this week on November 8, as the venue shifts to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. They will also host game three on Sunday, March 20 and the Suns will host the final regular-season meeting between the teams on April 10.

Jones and the Hornets will host the Kings at the Spectrum Center on December 10. He will face Ayton when the Hornets travel to the Footprint Center on December 19 and they will host the Suns at the Spectrum Center on January 2.