BBNBA: Devin Booker cooks up a 50-burger in Suns win

The undisputed list of the top three burgers are as follows: Five Guys, Shake Shack, and 50 burgers from former Kentucky players. Devin Booker cooked up a delectable one on Friday, putting up 52 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on an efficient 18-30 (60 percent) from the field including 6-11 (55 percent) from behind the arc.

Oh, and he did it in just three quarters. Book dropped 25 points in the first quarter alone, and got up to 52 by the end of the third before the Suns coasted in the fourth with a comfortable lead.

Mmm, mmm, good.

It marked Booker’s sixth career 50-point game and matched the number of friends and family he had in attendance. The former Kentucky guard played high school ball at Moss Point, Mississippi, about 90 minutes from New Orleans. When Book hit 50, he looked up at his dad and grandfather in the stands.

Book also dished out five assists and grabbed four boards for the Suns, who got the win to keep their momentum going in the right direction. They have now won four straight, and the once underwhelming team is now matriculating its way up the Western Conference standings.

Jamal Murray and the Nuggets give the Celtics their first home loss of the season

The Boston Celtics entered Friday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets with an incredible 20-0 record at home, but thanks in large part to former Kentucky sharpshooter Jamal Murray, they are now 20-1 at the Garden.

On his way to a game-high 35 points, Murray missed only six of his 21 shots, shooting 71 percent from the field and 3-7 from deep. He also brought down eight rebounds and handed out five assists.

Former Dukie Jayson Tatum had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his fadeaway jumper over Murray bricked high off the glass, securing the win for the Nuggets.

Other BBNBA Notes:

• Nine former Kentucky players saw the court on Friday in the NBA and eight of them scored 20 or more points. The ninth, Jarred Vanderbilt, still scored in double-figures with 12. It will never cease to amaze me about the depth of talent Kentucky has churned into the league during the John Calipari era. It is truly remarkable.
• Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points on Friday and yet is a footnote in BBNBA contributors for the evening. Similar to Booker and Murray, Maxey was incredibly efficient in his pursuit of a game-high in points, shooting 10-20 from the field and 4-10 from long range. He also came away with three steals and a block.
• Speaking of efficiency, Anthony Davis shot 9-13 on his way to 26 points. He was the only former ‘Cat with a double-double on Friday, pulling down 12 rebounds. Of course, Davis also was his dominant defensive self, blocking one shot and coming away with two steals. Still, the Lakers fell to the Brooklyn Nets.
• The Miami Heat came up one point shy of a victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, but Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro combined for 46 out of the Heat’s 108 points on the night. 46 combined points might not sound like a lot considering Booker dropped 52 himself, but compared to most mortals, this is impressive.

BBNBA Statistics for 1/20/2024

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	P/M	MIN
Devin Booker (PHX)	123-109 W vs. NOP	52	18-30 (6-11)	4	5	0	0	1	+12	37
Jamal Murray (DEN)	102-100 W vs. BOS	35	15-21 (3-7)	8	5	0	0	1	-7	35
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	124-109 W vs. PHI	32	10-20 (4-10)	3	5	3	1	2	+17	34
Anthony Davis (LAL)	112-130 L vs. BRK	26	9-13 (0-1)	12	6	3	2	1	-12	35
Tyler Herro (MIA)	108-109 L vs. ATL	25	10-19 (4-9)	6	2	1	0	2	0	35
Keldon Johnson (SAS)	120-124 L vs. CHA	25	9-15 (4-8)	4	3	0	0	1	-3	29
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	108-109 L vs. ATL	21	7-15 (0-0)	9	6	1	0	3	+8	39
PJ Washington (CHA)	124-120 W vs. SAS	20	7-11 (3-4)	6	0	1	0	2	+14	28
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	112-130 L vs. BRK	12	5-5 (2-2)	5	0	0	0	0	-10	19
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	118-115 W vs. IND	DNP-Thigh
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	115-118 L vs. POR	DNP-Concussion
Oscar Tshiebwe (IND) [Two-way]	115-118 L vs. POR	DNP-CD
Nick Richards (CHA)	124-120 W vs. SAS	DNP-Ankle

Tonight in the NBA

• 3:00: Bucks (Washington, Livingston) @ Pistons (Knox)
• 7:00: 76ers (Maxey) @ Hornets (PJ Washington, Richards)
• 7:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Wizards
• 7:30: Cavaliers @ Hawks
• 7:30: Raptors (Quickley) @ Knicks (Randle)
• 8:00: Grizzlies @ Bulls
• 8:00: Jazz @ Rockets
• 8:00: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Sarr) @ Timberwolves (Towns)