Embiid was absent, and Philadelphia lost 107-113 to the Kings on the road. In the final quarter, with a 9-point lead, the Kings suddenly made a surge in the last three minutes, scoring an 11-0 run to instantly dismantle Philadelphia. George played well in the first three quarters today, but in the fourth quarter, he only managed 2 rebounds in 7 minutes, going 0-for-1 from the field without scoring, which was a high start and low finish that couldn't be relied upon. Fox is indeed very capable, especially in the clutch, where he made every shot, particularly from mid-range. Fox has something special.
Recently, there have been many rumors about Fox leaving the team, with the Rockets being the hottest potential destination for Fox, as he is from Houston. Moreover, the Rockets' configuration is not only similar to the Kings but also stronger. The Kings have Sabonis, the fire dragon, while the Rockets have Shen Jing, the little fire dragon. Additionally, the Rockets have abundant frontline resources, so it can be said that the Rockets meet the standards for an All-Star to move in directly. If the Rockets could replace Van Jordan with Fox, they could compete for the championship this year.
Fox is the scorer the Rockets need and the role the team dreams of having, someone who can deliver the decisive blow in critical moments. Standing at 1.91 meters tall, Fox also shines defensively. If Fox were to join the Rockets, the team could perfectly leverage their top-three defense in the league. The Rockets' defense would not decrease because of Fox's addition; instead, it would improve. With Fox averaging 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, shooting at a 49.3% clip, he could significantly enhance the Rockets' offense.
Today's game has already told the story. From the opening tip, Fox led the Kings in a massive offensive push, leading by 8 points. However, George suddenly erupted, scoring 14 consecutive points, allowing Philadelphia to overtake the Kings by 5 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, George's firepower did not diminish, and with Eric Gordon hitting two consecutive three-pointers, Philadelphia had extended their lead to as many as 14 points. In a crucial moment, Fox scored 2 points to stop the bleeding, followed by Sabonis attacking the paint fiercely, with Lyles and Ellis adding 6 points in a row, as the Kings continued to close the gap. Fox then hit a three-pointer at the buzzer before halftime, successfully leveling the score.
In the second half, George's scoring output decreased, but Maxi took over, and under his assault, Philadelphia reestablished a 9-point lead. In the final quarter, Fox was quite smart, exploiting Drummond's defensive weaknesses on the court. He repeatedly trained against the big man with his speed, and his mid-range shots were like a killing grave. This targeted Philadelphia's pain point, reducing the gap to 4 points. Philadelphia quickly adjusted and had Maxi re-establish the lead. However, in the last three minutes, Fox's mid-range shots were unstoppable, and with DeRozan and Monk contributing, the Kings ultimately delivered a decisive run.
In the entire game, George scored 30 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists for Philadelphia, while Maxi had 27 points, and Gordon had 14 points. For the Kings, Sabonis had 17 points, 21 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Monk had 20 points. Fox, with a terrifying shooting percentage of 13-for-16, scored 35 points and 4 assists, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. This might be the key reason why Fox rejected the Kings' 3-year 165millioncontractandpursuedthehighestpossible5−year345 million contract. At 27 years old, Fox is in his prime and is undoubtedly a superstar level player.
Of course, for Fox to get the 5-year $345 million contract, he must be selected to the All-NBA Team. The Kings are reluctant to offer it, but it doesn't affect the Rockets. In fact, the better Fox plays, the more it aligns with the outcome the Rockets are expecting. They have been observing Fox, and over the years, the Kings have been trading away All-Stars. For example, they sent Haliburton to the Pacers, and now Fox wants to leave. The reason the Kings favor the Rockets is that the Rockets have Sheppard. The Kings really like the young Sheppard, and theoretically, the Rockets have a significant chance of acquiring Fox. Recently, Fox's performance can be considered a trial, and except for the core players, the Rockets currently lack nothing.