The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Chavano “Buddy” Hield and Deandre Ayton got off to strong showings in their respective preseason debuts as the NBA 2020-21 campaign begins.

Hield finished with a game high 23 points in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers while Ayton finished with a double double - 11 points and 14 rebounds - in a loss to the Utah Jazz.

Hield’s 23 points came on 8-17 shooting from the field and 5-11 from three-point range in just 23 minutes during Friday’s 127-102 loss to the Trail Blazers.

In the shortest offseason in NBA history, the Kings just had approximately three months between its final game in the Orlando bubble to end the 2019-20 season and its preseason debut in the 2020-21 season.

Hield said he used the time off to gain size and strength.

“I think it’s my mom’s cooking, that’s why I bulked up,” Hield joked with reporters following the game. “She’s been with me the whole time after I left the bubble. I just got a body fat test, I put on a lot of muscle but us, with this pace we’re playing, that will be gone in two weeks.”

Hield also noted that he looks to improve defensively.

“[They] said I can’t play defence so the challenge for me is to go out there and prove myself. I worked on my agility this offseason so I just go out there and try to compete,” Hield said. “My teammates, they may not need me to be a great defensive player, but they need me to be good enough for the team rather than try to get beat off the dribble and try to contain my man.”

Kings’ head coach Luke Walton said Hield had some of the few individual defensive highlights on the night. He also added that Hield has been one of the best players in camp after a pre-camp interview when he said the fifth year guard would have to earn his spot as a starter alongside point guard De’Aron Fox.

Ayton also played limited minutes (22) in the Suns’ 119-105 loss on the road to the Utah Jazz. He shot 5-11 from the field and 10 of his 14 rebounds were on the defensive end of the floor.

Expectations loom large for Ayton after he averaged 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field in just 38 games in his second season. The Suns’ roster overhaul has been highlighted by the addition of point guard Chris Paul, a move many pundits expect to benefit Ayton’s development.

“I think he’s gonna be a force,” Suns franchise guard Devin Booker said following the game. “I think with Chris leading him and communicating with him the whole time, alongside myself drawing gravity to open things up for him.”

Paul (rest) did not play in last weekend’s opener and without the team’s point guard on the floor, Ayton had few catches on what is expected to be an effective pick and roll attack.

“I like when he’s aggressive. He can shoot it in spots, but when he puts it on the ground and puts his body on somebody he’s tough to guard. They’re gonna have to foul him,” he said. “You’ve seen spurts of that tonight and you’re going to see so because we’re gonna continue to stay on him and make sure he’s being Dominayton.”

The Kings open their regular season on December 23 against the Denver Nuggets while the Suns also open the regular season on December 23 against the Dallas Mavericks. Hield and Ayton will go head-to-head when their teams play a back-to-back, December 26 and 27.