BBNBA: Anthony Davis' 35 points too much for Devin Booker, Suns

Friday night action in the NBA saw 10 games happening across the country. But due to injuries and coaching decisions to sit a handful of players, “only” eight former Kentucky Wildcats took the floor. None were more impressive than Anthony Davis though, who has the Los Angeles Lakers off to a quick 2-0 start for the first time since 2010-11.

Alongside LeBron James, Davis and the Lakers took down Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns by a final score of 123-116. Davis led all scorers with 35 points on 11-18 shooting (plus a 13-17 mark from the free throw line). The nine-time All-Star also registered eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal in 37 minutes. This comes a few days after he dropped 36 points in the season-opener. Davis is the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2005 to open a season with back-to-back games of 30-plus points.

Los Angeles actually trailed by 22 points at one point in the second quarter and took a nine-point deficit into the halftime break. But by the time the fourth quarter began, the Lakers had completed the comeback by taking a slight lead and eventually ballooning its advantage to 12 points down the stretch. Booker finished with 23 points (9-21 FG), four assists, and three rebounds in 35 minutes.

Maxey, KAT both drop 20+

Due to injuries to the stars around him, Tyrese Maxey has been handling a larger load than normal through the Philadelphia 76ers’ first two games — and the early returns haven’t been pretty. Maxey shot just 6-23 from the field last night, including a 2-12 clip from deep, in a 115-107 loss to the Immanuel Quickley-less Toronto Raptors. Maxey still finished with 24 points, but the Sixers moved to 0-2 on the season.

The win ended a seven-game losing streak for Toronto against Philly. Neither of the 76ers’ other two superstars, Joel Embiid and Paul George, have yet to take the floor this season. Maxey is going to need them back sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double in a lopsided 123-98 home win over the Indiana Pacers. It was Towns’ Madison Square Garden debut as a member of the Knicks, which bounced back from an Opening Night loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics. Towns shot 5-11 from the floor (2-2 from deep) and also blocked a pair of shots.

On defense, New York held Indiana All-Star guard Tyrse Hailburton to a goose egg in the scoring column. Pacers backup center Isaiah Jackson chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 15 minutes.

Other BBNBA notes

• Reed Sheppard played his second-ever NBA game on Friday, a 128-108 win by his Houston Rockets over the Memphis Grizzlies. He performed similarly to his debut, finishing with six points (2-4 from deep), two assists, and one steal in 12 minutes.
• Nick Richards recorded a double-double as the starting center for the Charlotte Hornets in its 125-120 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Richards posted 12 points and 13 rebounds on 3-6 shooting.

10/25/24 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Anthony Davis (LAL)	123-116 W vs. PHX	35	11-18	8	4	1	2	1	4	37
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	115-107 L @ TOR	24	6-23 (2-12)	2	4	1	0	1	-1	41
Devin Booker (PHX)	123-116 L @ LAL	23	9-21 (4-10)	3	4	1	1	2	-10	35
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)	123-98 W vs. IND	21	5-11 (2-2)	15	0	1	2	0	17	32
Nick Richards (CHA)	125-120 L @ ATL	12	3-6	13	2	0	1	1	4	30
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	123-98 L @ NYK	10	5-6	5	2	1	0	2	-5	15
Reed Sheppard (HOU)	128-108 W vs. MEM	6	2-5 (2-4)	0	2	1	0	0	3	12
Jacob Toppin (NYK)	123-98 L vs. IND	0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Johnny Juzang (UTA)	127-86 L vs. GSW	DNP-Thumb	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	105-103 L vs. NOP	DNP-Shoulder	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Immanuel Quickley (TOR)	115-107 W vs. PHI	DNP-Pelvic	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Oscar Tshiebwe (UTA)	127-86 L vs. GSW	DNP-G League	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	123-116 W vs. PHX	DNP-Foot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Justin Edwards (PHI)	115-107 L @ TOR	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Chris Livingston (MIL)	133-122 L vs. CHI	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Brandon Boston Jr. (NOP)	105-103 W @ POR	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Antonio Reeves (NOP)	105-103 W @ POR	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TyTy Washington (PHX)	123-116 L @ LAL	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

• 5:00 | Clippers @ Nuggets (Murray)
• 7:00 | Cavaliers @ Wizards
• 7:00 | Celtics @ Pistons
• 7:00 | Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ Hornets (Richards)
• 8:00 | Raptors (Quickley: out) @ Timberwolves (Dillingham, Randle)
• 8:00 | Magic @ Grizzlies
• 8:00 | Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace) @ Bulls
• 8:30 | Rockets (Sheppard) @ Spurs (Johnson)
• 10:00 | Mavericks (PJ Washington) @ Suns (Booker, T. Washington)
• 10:30 | Kings (Fox, Lyles, Monk) @ Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt: out)