Absent in the last two games due to a wrist injury, Tyrese Haliburton was unable to do anything to avoid the Kings’ loss to Houston and Golden State. Suddenly, he came back in bomb last night to bring Sacramento to victory by achieving a fourth quarter-time as a boss. As a reminder, he is only a rookie.
Tyrese Haliburton never ceases to shine. Already the author of a particularly attractive start to the season in the Californian capital, the leader drafted in twelfth position a few weeks ago has just released a small masterpiece against the Bulls, who were able to discover the nugget of Sactown . 35 minutes of play in total, 17 points (7/15 shooting, 3/7 from distance), 7 rebounds, 6 caviars, 1 against, 3 steals for… zero turnover. A record-breaking night for Tyrese, who took advantage of De’Aaron Fox’s minor injury – hit with hamstrings – to establish his best career numbers in all the categories listed just above. In short, an evening that he will remember, an evening in which he initially struggled a little, before really carrying the Kings in the fourth quarter. Yes, we are talking about a kid of only 20 years old, who does not even have ten NBA games behind him, but who is already able to chain actions clutch on both sides of the field. Tyrese in the fourth quarter tonight? 15 points (6/7 shooting, 3/3 from distance), with lay-up in penetration, dunk in counterattack after interception, missile from afar, and especially this insolent award-winning shot from the corner at 12 seconds of late to crucify the Bulls, the score dropping from 124-121 for Sacramento to 127-121. Too clean, too strong, too kiffant.
CLUTCH from the rook! pic.twitter.com/9eYOvVXr8Q
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 7, 2021
And as he didn’t want to give the Taureans a chance, he was also the one who intercepted the ball on the throw-in that followed, showing his ability to contribute defensively. It is not Coby White who will say the opposite because even if the sophomore of the Bulls finished with 36 pawns on the clock, he was covered by the great Tyrese on a 3-point attempt two minutes from the end. You got it, Haliburton was everywhere. When it was necessary to score, he scored. When he had to serve his friends, he served his friends. When it came time to put his balls on the table, he put his balls on the table. The correctness that he demonstrates in his choices, the confidence with which he plays, and this swag (do they still say that youngsters?) that he owns every time he’s on the pitch make him the most fun rookie of the start of the season. We like what James Wiseman shows with Golden State, Anthony Edwards does his thing with the Wolves, LaMelo Ball clearly knows how to do the show and Payton Pritchard is the future GOAT, but if we had to make a classification in the race for the Rookie of the ‘Year today, Tyrese would be number one. And if De’Aaron Fox stays in the infirmary, we may see even more in the games to come.
“The more the match progresses, the more the pressure rises in the fourth quarter, the more he gains in confidence and increases his level mentally to carry out decisive actions. “
– Kings coach Luke Walton, via NBC Sports.
The two absence games did not slow Tyrese Haliburton down, on the contrary. With the Fox injury, he was immediately put back in the deep end by Luke Walton, and he responded at the best time to allow the Kings to move forward. We’re going to call him TyROY soon.
