BBNBA: De'Aaron Fox out-duels Luka Doncic in Kings win

For all the serious and wishful prognostication around Shai-Gilgeous Alexander getting NBA MVP consideration, De’Aaron Fox has quietly joined the chat himself. In his last six games, Fox is averaging 34.2 points, 6.2 assists, and has shot at least 50 percent in all but one of those games.

On Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, Fox continued his excellence, dropping 30 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and three steals in the Sacramento Kings’ 129-113 win. He and Luka Doncic battled all game long, often finding themselves in one-on-one matchups. Luka finished with 25 points, but Fox came away with the victory.

Malik Monk came off the bench for the Kings and made four of his six 3-point attempts. He scored 12 points in just 18 minutes of action while chipping in three assists, a steal, and a block as well.

Sacramento’s other former Wildcat, Trey Lyles, has yet to see the floor this season as he continues to rehab from a calf injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a pretty solid game of his own

Don’t let Fox completely upend Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP bid just yet. While Fox was busy putting Doncic in a blender, SGA put up a whooping on Shaedon Sharpe and the Portland Trail Blazers. En route to a 43-point victory, Shai dropped 28 points on an efficient 10-13 from the field in just 23 minutes for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This game also saw Cason Wallace get his first start of his NBA career and while he scored just two points, he has been playing the classic “do-everything-right” role that coaches love.

For the Blazers, Sharpe had just seven points and none of them came via a highlight dunk for a change. Portland is in a serious rebuilding year with Sharpe serving as one of the centerpieces in that effort.

Other BBNBA Notes

Out of the 11 former Kentucky players who played in the NBA on Sunday, five of them scored at least 20 points. In addition to De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

• Anthony Davis scored 27 points as part of his 10-rebound double-double in the Los Angeles Lakers one-point win over the Houston Rockets. The Brow also had two steals and a block.

• Devin Booker is back after dealing with a calf injury and looking like his old self. He dropped 26 points and dished out eight assists as the Suns pulled out the double-overtime victory over the Utah Jazz 140-137.

• Tyrese Maxey, penciled in as the Most Improved Player this season, drained six 3-pointers on Sunday on his way to 25 points in the 76ers’ victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Maxey also handed out 10 assists as he keeps Philadelphia fans asking, “James Harden, who?”

Statistics for 11/19/2023

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	129-113 W vs. DAL	30	10-20 (6-10)	4	7	3	0	0	+2	31
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	134-91 W vs. POR	28	10-13 (1-1)	3	4	1	0	3	+26	23
Anthony Davis (LAL)	105-104 W vs. HOU	27	11-15 (0-0)	10	3	2	1	4	-8	33
Devin Booker (PHX)	140-137 W vs. UTA	26	8-21 (2-7)	5	8	0	1	3	+2	40
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	121-99 W vs. BRK	25	8-20 (6-11)	2	10	0	0	1	+21	25
Malik Monk (SAC)	129-113 W vs. DAL	12	4-9 (4-6)	2	3	1	1	2	+9	18
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	91-134 L vs. OKC	7	3-8 (1-1)	4	1	0	0	1	-20	24
Olivier Sarr (OKC)	134-91 W vs. POR	6	2-5 (2-3)	2	0	0	0	0	+10	10
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	116-128 L vs. ORL	6	1-2 (0-0	3	1	3	1	0	+17	12
Kevin Knox II (DET)	113-142 L vs. TOR	6	2-11 (1-5)	4	0	1	0	0	-22	26
Cason Wallace (OKC)	134-91 W vs. POR	2	1-2 (0-0)	1	0	1	0	1	+19	21
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	105-104 W vs. HOU	DNP-Heel
Jamal Murray (DEN)	109-121 L vs. CLE	DNP-Hamstring
Trey Lyles (SAC)	129-113 W vs. DAL	DNP-Calf

Tonight in the NBA

• 7:00: Celtics @ Hornets (PJ Washington, Richards)
• 7:00: Nuggets (Murray: out) @ Pistons (Knox)
• 7:00: Bucks (Livingston: out, T. Washington: 2-Way) @ Wizards
• 8:00: Heat (Adebayo, Herro: out) @ Bulls
• 8:00: Knicks (Randle, Quickley) @ Timberwolves (Towns)
• 8:00: Kings (Fox, Monk, Lyles: out) @ Pelicans
• 8:00: Clippers (Boston) @ Spurs (Johnson)
• 10:00: Rockets @ Warriors