BBNBA: Jamal Murray Went Nuclear in Win Over De'Aaron Fox-less Kings
On paper, Wednesday was supposed to be a matchup of some of the best Kentucky guards in the NBA.
De’Aaron Fox has led the Sacramento Kings to the eighth seed in a loaded Western Conference with a 33-24 record. However, Fox suffered a left knee contusion in the first quarter of Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat. This left the former UK guard questionable entering a matchup with reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray. A Nuggets team that is surging with a 40-19 record which lands them third in the West.
Behind this amazing record is, well, back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic, and Murray, an often overlooked guard. The “Blue Arrow” is enjoying his best offensive year with a career-high 48% field goal percentage along with another career-high 42% from three. Murray’s efficiency was on display Wednesday night.
Jamal Murray’s Efficiency
Along with the increase in efficiency, Murray is averaging 20.9 ppg, the second-highest mark of his career. This efficiency continued in a Nuggets home win over a De’Aaron Fox-less Kings thanks to Murray’s 32 points on 13-15 shots from the field.
Murray was the star for Denver in a 117-96 win, reminding many people who he really is.
Statistically speaking, Murray is one of the most consistent, trusted guards in the Western Conference. However, he hasn’t even been considered for an end-of-the-year award since his 2016-17 All-Rookie Second-Team selection.
Yes, second team — behind guards Buddy Hield and Malcolm Brogdon, forwards Dario Saric and Willy Hernangomez, and (actual star) Joel Embiid. Outside, of reigning MVP Embiid, who ended up better than Murray?
Yet, to this day, Jamal is still finding himself award-less, and frankly thank-less (not internally) for his role in the Nuggets’ success. Murray was not in Indianapolis for the All-Star Game. After his “snub”, NBA Twitter began to dub Murray the “best player in the NBA that has never been an All-Star,” which I’m sure means a lot to him.
However, if the Denver Nuggets go for a repeat, it may provide the Blue Arrow with his ammo for the haters, or for the NBA voters.
And in case you forgot, Jamal was HIM in blue and white… ask Coach Ulis about that backcourt.
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PJ Washington, Immanuel Quickley Prove Worth After Deadline
The NBA trade deadline is one of the most electric times of the basketball calendar. Over the years huge players have been moved around the deadline, most recently former All-NBA players Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being moved last season.
This season’s addition of the deadline was much more tame. However, two former Kentucky stars were moved around the same time as Immanuel Quickley and PJ Washington were traded ahead of the deadline. Quickley was a part of the RJ Barrett-OG Anunoby deal that saw Barrett and IQ being sent from New York to Toronto along with picks. Washington was moved from the super-bad Charlotte Hornets to the pretty-good Dallas Mavericks.
Quickley and Washington have both added immense value to their respective squads. IQ has been a leader in the rebuilding youth movement of the Raptors as they also moved Pascal Siakiam for picks. Washington, on the other hand, is a needed piece to the thin Mavericks.
Outside of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, Dallas has had trouble finding much depth to support the superstars.
On Wednesday night, it was PJ Washington and the Dallas Mavericks taking home the win in Toronto. PJ scored 23 points with five threes in the starting lineup. Quickley scored a team-high 28 with five threes as well. Luka led the game with an absurd 30-point, 16-assist, 11-rebound stat-line. The Mavs moved to seventh in the Western Conference (34-25), proving the Washington deal to be a success for Mark Cuban.
BBNBA Statistics for 2/28/2024
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | +/- | MIN |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 117-96 W vs. SAC | 32 | 13-15 (5-6) | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | +7 | 33 |
| Immanuel Quickley (TOR) | 125-139 L vs. DAL | 28 | 10-18 (5-11) | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -6 | 38 |
| PJ Washington (DAL) | 139-125 W @ TOR | 23 | 9-16 (5-10) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -2 | 23 |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 116-112 W @ LAC | 20 | 8-15 (0-2) | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -4 | 36 |
| Malik Monk (SAC) | 96-117 L @ DEN | 14 | 6-16 (2-5) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -15 | 26 |
| Karl Anthony Towns (MIN) | 110-101 W vs. MEM | 13 | 5-13 (3-7) | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | +9 | 37 |
| Trey Lyles | 96-117 L @ DEN | 8 | 3-7 (1-2) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 23 |
Tonight in the NBA (2/29/24)
- 7:00 Bucks (TyTy Washington: 2-Way, Livingston) @ Hornets (Richards)
- 7:00 Jazz @ Magic
- 7:30 Hawks @ Nets
- 7:30 (TNT) Warriors @ Knicks (Randle: out, Toppin)
- 8:30 Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Sarr: 2-Way) @ Spurs (Johnson)
- 9:00 Rockets @ Suns (Booker)
- 10:00 (TNT) Heat (Herro: questionable, Adebayo) @ Nuggets (Murray)
- 10:30 Wizards @ Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt)
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