Tyreke Evans was admittedly in a funk.
He was thinking too much on the court
Free throws became impossible to make at times. But Evans made 9-of-18 shots in scoring a game-high 27 points to help the Kings beat the New Orleans Hornets Sunday night.
Evans also only missed one of his eight free throws after entering the game 13-of-27.
"Fans, coaches expect me to be better," Evans said. "I felt like I let people down by the way I was coming out. The Laker game I showed I could play great and I've got to play great every night. From here on out I've got to push myself to be a great player and help my team win."
Kings coach Paul Westphal began the preseason by saying Evans looked "sluggish" and criticized his turnovers in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Evans said after a talk with Westphal, he was encouraged to just have fun and not think so much.
His effort Sunday was a result of that talk.
"I'm a basketball player," Evans said. "I know what I can do on that court and coach knows as well. Maybe he might have felt that, maybe he was right. I know once the lights are on I'm going to give it 150 percent whether I have a bad game or not. I'm still going to try to play hard every night."
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