BBNBA: De'Aaron Fox makes clutch shot but Dame Lillard makes, uh, clutcher shot
De’Aaron Fox won the NBA’s debut new award last season: the Kia Clutch Player of the Year award. While I roll my eyes at the fact everything needs a sponsor in today’s world, I will at least tip my cap to likely unintentional but hopefully intentional play on words that a car company has a clutch award.
Regardless, on Sunday, Fox showcased why he earned the inaugural hardware, sinking a tough layup over perpetual MVP candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in the final seconds of regulation to force the game into overtime.
This would have, could have, and should have served as the highlight of the night across the league, but Damian Lillard said it was time for him to steal the show. Down two with just a few seconds remaining in OT, Lillard hit a 32-foot fadeaway 3-pointer just as the buzzer sounded to send the home crowd into a frenzy, cheering their newest superstar who was peering back at them while pointing at his wrist, giving off Gladiator-like “Are you not entertained?” vibes.
Pay no attention to the fact Fox missed one of two free throws just before this possession that would have made that the game-tying 3 instead of the game-winner.
Former Kentucky players combined for 69 points in the game, with Fox putting up 32, Malik Monk dropping 28 (his second-highest total this season), and Trey Lyles chipping in nine. The Bluegrass trio have the Kings in 6th place in the Western Conference and ready to be another tough out in the playoff this season.
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Devin Booker drops 34 points in a Suns victory over the Trail Blazers
Blowing out the Portland Trail Blazers is the cool thing to do these days, and while Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns did not exactly flirt with the NBA record for the largest margin of victory the way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City Thunder did earlier in the week, they were happy to leave Portland with a double-digit win.
Book dropped 34 points in the triumph to go along with his seven assists and six boards (not to mention zero turnovers). Injuries have hindered the Valley’s new Big 3 from sharing the court much this season but as winners in seven of their last 10 games, the Suns are finally starting to get the hang of this whole Booker-Durant-Beal chemistry project.
BBNBA Statistics for 1/14/2024
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | P/M | MIN |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 127-116 W vs. POR | 34 | 14-22 (1-6) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +17 | 34 |
| De’Aaron Fox (SAC) | 142-143 L vs. MIL | 32 | 12-26 (2-6) | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 43 |
| Malik Monk (SAC) | 142-143 L vs. MIL | 28 | 9-21 (4-9) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -11 | 36 |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 117-109 L vs. IND | 25 | 11-18 (1-4) | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 36 |
| Bam Adebayo (MIA) | 104-87 W vs. CHA | 24 | 9-17 (0-1) | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +5 | 35 |
| Tyler Herro (MIA) | 104-87 W vs. CHA | 21 | 7-15 (4-9) | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +12 | 28 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) | 109-105 W vs. LAC | 17 | 7-12 (2-4) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +12 | 37 |
| Isaiah Jackson (IND) | 109-117 L vs. DEN | 12 | 6-9 (0-0) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 20 |
| Trey Lyles (SAC) | 142-143 L vs. MIL | 9 | 3-8 (3-7) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 33 |
| PJ Washington (CHA) | 87-104 L vs. MIA | 5 | 2-7 (1-5) | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 28 |
| Nick Richards (CHA) | 87-104 L vs. MIA | 2 | 1-5 (0-0) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -15 | 27 |
| Shaedon Sharpe (POR) | 116-127 L vs. PHX | DNP-Thigh | ||||||||
| Chris Livingston (MIL) | 143-142 W vs. SAC | DNP-Illness | ||||||||
| TyTy Washington (MIL) | 143-142 W vs. SAC | DNP-CD | ||||||||
| Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC) | 105-109 L vs. MIN | DNP-CD | ||||||||
| Oscar Tshiebwe (IND) | 109-117 L vs. DEN | DNP-CD |
MLK Day in the NBA
1:00: Rockets @ 76ers (Maxey)
2:30: Pelicans @ Mavericks
3:00: Magic @ Knicks (Randle)
3:00: Pistons (Knox) @ Wizards (Diallo)
3:30: Spurs (Johnson) @ Hawks
6:00: Warriors @ Grizzlies
7:00: Bulls @ Cavaliers
7:30: Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ Nets
7:30: Celtics @ Raptors (Quickley)
9:00: Pacers (Jackson, Tshiebwe) @ Jazz (Juzang [Two-way])
10:30: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Sarr [Two-way]) @ Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt)
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