BBNBA: Julius Randle nails buzzer-beating game winner over the Suns

Although Julius Randle changed jerseys this offseason, he’s still a bad, bad, man.

Randle dropped a season-high 35 points and a buzzer-beating three-pointer in Minnesota’s 120-117 victory over the Phoenix Suns Sunday night. The 3x NBA All-Star dropped Phoenix’s Josh Okogie and nailed the step-back three for the win with no time remaining. The shot marked Randle’s first career game-winning buzzer beater.

He also dished out seven assists and hit five three-pointers in the win.

Randle wasn’t the only Cat who shined in that matchup however, as Devin Booker also scored a season-high in points with 44 (15-29 FG). He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out seven assists. Booker notched his 34th career 40-point game in the loss, the most in Suns franchise history.

Through 14 games this season, D-Book is averaging just 24 points per game, which would be his lowest scoring average in eight seasons (22.1 in 2016-2017). After starting the season 8-1, Booker’s Suns have lost four of their last five games.

Reed Sheppard nails career-high four three-pointers in win

The Reed Sheppard show has finally arrived in the NBA.

Sheppard, who was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, hit a career high four three-pointers in Houston’s dominant 143-107 win over the Chicago Bulls Sunday night. He also blocked three shots and scored 12 points, which is a career-high.

The London, KY native had struggled through his first 13 games, averaging just three points per game. Hopefully this performance is what Sheppard needed to settle in and get comfortable in the league.

Washington’s Mavericks hold off SGA’s Thunder 121-119

After missing five games and scoring 0 points in 19 minutes played on Saturday, P.J. Washington returned with a vengeance Sunday night.

Washington led the Mavericks to a win with 27 points and 17 rebounds, clinching his 26th career double-double. The 6’6″ forward has averaged 17.3 PPG in 11 career games against the Thunder, including a career-high 43 points on March 28, 2023.

“I love playing here,” Washington said about Oklahoma City postgame. “I love this gym and I obviously love beating them too.”

Washington’s former teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his dominant season, scoring 36 points (13-19 FG) in the loss. SGA is averaging 27.9 PPG, which is good for ninth most in the NBA. Cason Wallace scored just four points in 25 minutes.

Other BBNBA Notes:

• Shaedon Sharpe continues to emerge as one of the brightest young stars in the Western Conference, as he scored 32 points (11-21 FG) in Portland’s 114-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Sharpe has scored a combined 65 points over his last two games, bringing his season average to 15.2 PPG. He averaged 15.9 PPG in 32 games played last season.
• Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo combined to score 52 points (17-36 FG) for the Miami Heat Sunday night, although it wasn’t enough to overcome the Indiana Pacers. The Heat lost 119-110, falling to 5-7 (8th in the Western Conference) on the season.
• The New York Knicks won their second consecutive game over the Brooklyn Nets thanks to 26 points from Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns made just one of his three three-point attempts, bringing his season average to 2.7 3PM (30th in the NBA).
• Denver, without MVP leader Nikola Jokic, fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 105-90 Sunday night. Jamal Murray struggled, scoring just 13 points (6-15 FG) in the ugly loss.

11/17/2024 BBNBA Statistics:

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Devin Booker (PHX)	117-120 L @ MIN	44	15-29 (6-13)	6	7	0	1	4	+4	40
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	119-121 L vs DAL	36	13-19 (1-1)	2	8	2	2	1	+8	38
Julius Randle (MIN)	120-117 W vs PHX	35	11-20 (5-11)	4	7	1	0	3	+16	34
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	114-110 W vs ATL	32	11-21 (3-8)	2	5	3	0	3	+8	32
Tyler Herro (MIA)	110-119 L @ IND	28	8-18 (7-11)	4	4	1	0	1	-10	38
P.J. Washington (DAL)	121-119 W @ OKC	27	7-13 (3-4)	17	2	0	1	1	+12	28
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)	114-104 W vs BKN	26	10-16 (1-3)	15	6	1	1	1	+14	30
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	110-119 L @ IND	24	9-18 (2-4)	8	2	0	0	2	-9	40
Jamal Murray (DEN)	90-105 L @ MEM	13	6-15 (1-6)	6	7	3	2	6	-3	37
Reed Sheppard (HOU)	107-143 W vs CHI	12	4-7 (4-5)	2	1	0	3	1	+3	19
Cason Wallace (OKC)	119-121 L vs DAL	4	2-8 (0-5)	2	1	2	0	0	-10	25
Rob Dillingham (MIN)	120-117 W vs PHX	0	0-2 (0-0)	0	0	0	0	1	-5	6
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	119-110 W vs MIA	DNP – Achilles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Johnny Juzang (UTA)	105-116 L @ LAC	DNP – CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nick Richards (CHA)	114-128 L vs CLE	DNP – Ribs	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jacob Toppin (NYK)	114-104 W vs BKN	DNP – CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Oscar Tshiebwe (UTA)	105-116 L @ LAC	DNP – G-League	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TyTy Washington Jr. (PHX)	117-120 L @ MIN	DNP – CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA:

• 7:00 PM: Bulls @ Pistons
• 7:30 PM: 76ers (Edwards, Maxey: OUT) @ Heat (Adebayo, Herro)
• 7:30 PM: Wizards @ Knicks (Toppin, Towns)
• 7:30 PM: Pacers (Jackson: OUT) @ Raptors (Quickley: OUT)
• 8:00 PM: Rockets (Sheppard) @ Bucks (Livingston)
• 9:00 PM: Magic @ Suns (Booker, Washington Jr.)
• 10:00 PM: Hawks @ Kings (Fox, Lyles, Monk: OUT)
• 10:30 PM: Warriors @ Clippers