BBNBA: Keldon Johnson's Clutch Layup Propels Spurs to Victory
Through San Antonio’s first four games of the 2023-24 season, all anyone has wanted to talk about was rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama. However, Tuesday night was all about former Wildcat Keldon Johnson, who led the Spurs in scoring and scored the game-winning layup in San Antonio’s miracle 115-114 victory over Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
Following a Wembanyama put-back dunk with seven seconds remaining, the Spurs trailed by one point. Phoenix’s Josh Okogie then inbounded the ball to future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, who was immediately trapped in the corner by former Duke star Tre Jones and Johnson. Johnson raked the ball out of KD’s hands, drove to the basket, and made a contested layup over Okogie with just over a second remaining to put San Antonio in front by one.
The Spurs trailed 76-56 with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter and led for just one second in the victory, the final second. Halloween night’s miracle victory marked Keldon’s 37th 25+ point game in the NBA. Devin Booker was inactive for the Suns with a nagging toe injury. D-Book hasn’t played since Phoenix’s season opener.
Julius Randle’s Double-Double Fuels Knicks Victory
Thanks to Julius Randle‘s 257th career double-double, the New York Knicks took down a short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers squad 109-91 Tuesday night. New York’s Halloween victory marked their eighth in their last nine games against the Cavs (including the postseason).
Randle’s early season shooting woes, however, continued, as the former NBA Most Improved Player shot just 5-14 from the field but still finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Randle made seven of his 10 free throw attempts. Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley criticized Randle following the game.
“He relies too much on his jumper,” Barkley said. “He’s not a good jump shooter… Just because all these other fools in the NBA are jacking up threes all over the place—dude, look at your three-point percentage. Put your head down and go to the basket”
Immanuel Quickley‘s Sixth Man of the Year campaign continues to be off to a hot start, as IQ poured in 18 points on 6-11 shooting (3-6 from three) with three rebounds and two assists. Quickley fell 82 votes shy of the honor last season, finishing second to Boston’s Malcolm Brogdon. His back-to-back three-pointers put the game away midway through the fourth quarter.
10/31/2023 Statistics:
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | +/- | MIN |
| Keldon Johnson (SAS) | 115-114 W vs. PHX | 27 | 10-20 (4-9) | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | – | +1 | 33 |
| Julius Randle (NYK) | 109-91 W vs. CLE | 19 | 5-14 (2-5) | 10 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | +18 | 31 |
| Immanuel Quickley (NYK) | 109-91 W vs. CLE | 18 | 6-11 (3-6) | 3 | 2 | – | – | 3 | +9 | 24 |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 114-115 L vs. SAS | DNP (Toe) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Tonight in the NBA:
- 7:00: Trail Blazers (Sharpe) @ Pistons
- 7:00: Bucks (Livingston, Washington Jr.) @ Raptors
- 7:30: Wizards @ Hawks
- 7:30: Pacers (Jackson, Tshiebwe) @ Celtics
- 7:30: Nets @ Heat (Adebayo – PROBABLE, Herro)
- 7:30: Cavaliers @ Knicks (Quickley, Randle, Toppin)
- 7:30 (ESPN): Pelicans @ Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Sarr, Wallace)
- 8:00: Hornets (Richards, Washington) @ Rockets
- 8:00: Nuggets (Murray) @ Timberwolves (Towns)
- 8:30: Bulls @ Mavericks
- 9:00: Grizzlies @ Jazz
- 10:00: Kings (Fox – OUT, Lyles – OUT, Monk) @ Wizards
- 10:00 (ESPN): Clippers (Boston Jr. – OUT) @ Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt – OUT)
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