BBNBA: Fox, Monk, & Kings force Game 7; Lakers advance

AdamStrattonKSR

Watching De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk dominate a game like they’re wearing a Kentucky jersey in 2017 is the closest thing to basketball bliss Big Blue Nation can achieve in 2023. Just when you thought the Sacramento Kings were going to fold to the Golden State Warriors, Fox and Monk combined for 54 points in a 118-99 Game 6 win, forcing a Game 7.

De’Aaron Fox won the league’s Clutch Player of the Year award, but he didn’t need late-game heroics on Friday, as the reserves were on the floor in the final minutes. Fox’s 26 points, 11 assists, and three steals help keep Golden State at arm’s length all game before pulling away in the 4th quarter.

But as impressive as Fox was, it was actually Malik Monk who led all scorers with 28. He also chipped in seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Monk has been a sparkplug off the bench all year but has taken his assertiveness up a level in the playoffs.

While there is no doubt Immanuel Quickley was robbed of the 6th Man of the Year award, no one scored more points off the bench in the regular season than Malik Monk. As you might have guessed, he leads bench scorers in the playoffs as well.

But it wasn’t just Fox and Monk who did work. Former Kentucky forward, Trey Lyles, scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and came away with two steals in his 27 minutes. He may not have his own YouTube show, but Lyles has been a steady contributor all season long.

The Kings now look to light the beam in Game 7 on Sunday and advance to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

Anthony Davis and Lakers clinch series over the Grizzlies

De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk now know who they will face in the next round if they beat the Warriors in Game 7. Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers routed Memphis 125-85 on Friday, putting an end to a tumultuous collapse for the Grizzlies.

Once the darling of the NBA, the scrappy team who just kept winning all the way to the 2-seed faltered in the final month of the season on the heels of a gun-related incident with Ja Morant and multiple jerk-related incidents with Dillon Brooks.

Anthony Davis had a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double and rejected five shots in just 28 minutes of action in the victory. And you know it was a route if Jarred Vanderbilt shot nothing but 3s, which is exactly what he did. Vando made 3-8 from downtown and fished with nine points to go along with two blocks.

Wenyen Gabriel added six points and joined the Kentucky alumni Hollywood block party as he turned away two shots himself. In total, former ‘Cats had nine of Los Angeles’s 15 total blocks.

The rejuvenated Lakers will now watch Game 7 of the Kings-Warriors series with anticipation as to who they will face in the Western Conference Semis.

4/28/2023 Statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Malik Monk (SAC)	118-99 W vs. GSW	28	8-14 (3-6)	7	4	1	2	3	32	+21
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	118-99 W vs. GSW	26	10-18 (2-5)	4	11	3	1	5	37	+20
Anthony Davis (LAL)	125-85 W vs. MEM	16	6-9 (0-0)	14	1	0	5	1	28	+31
Trey Lyles (SAC)	118-99 W vs. GSW	12	5-10 (2-6)	9	0	2	0	1	27	+9
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	125-85 W vs. MEM	9	3-8 (3-8)	3	3	1	2	3	15	+19
Wenyen Gabriel (LAL)	125-85 W vs. MEM	6	3-5 (0-0)	2	0	0	2	1	10	+1