BBNBA: Keldon Johnson and Kevin Knox duel, Tyler Herro shines

The final week of the NBA season is not disappointing. Between five NBA contests on Thursday night, seven former Kentucky players hit the hardwood. Amid the action, the least likely suspects stole the show.

Battle at the bottom of the barrel

Despite both teams being out of the playoff race, the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers battled like their lives were on the line. The Spurs escaped to come out on top with a 129-127 victory, largely thanks to Keldon Johnson‘s performance.

The 6-foot-6 star spurred his team forward with a rousing 24-point performance. Johnson added five boards and four assists in the win, as well. The showing only becomes more impressive when you learn Johnson was questionable for the game due to illness.

The 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year suffered from stomach issues before the game after eating at a Buc-ee’s the night before. Johnson believes it was worth the pain. “I’m gonna go back,” Johnson said after the win.

Keldon Johnson had stomach issues last night and thinks it came from a @bucees stop.

But that's not stopping him from going to one of his local favorites again

"It taste good, really good…Imma go back!"#GoSpursGo | #Spurs @TylerFeldmanTV started this fiasco haha pic.twitter.com/eRYJmf9H2A

— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) April 7, 2023

A fellow ‘Cat took advantage of Johnson’s struggling stomach. Kevin Knox scored a season-high 24 points while shooting 9-15 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc. Knox is averaging 7.1 points per game since being traded to the Trail Blazers.

Tyler Herro ignites the Heat

Not every Thursday-night game lacked playoff implications. The Miami Heat pulled off a significant 129-101 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers, previewing a possible playoff matchup. In the win, Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points, four rebounds and five assists while shooting 5-8 from deep.

Herro’s blue-blooded brother was right behind him. All-Star center Bam Adebayo added 14 points and eight rebounds to the effort in just 24 minutes on the court. The impressive night is a step in the right direction for Adebayo, who has averaged fewer points and rebounds since the NBA All-Star break.

Now, if you’re wondering how 76ers guard and one-time Wildcat Tyrese Maxey let the Heat beat up on him like that, know that he didn’t. The 6-foot-2 stud didn’t play on Thursday due to neck stiffness. But don’t worry, Maxey will be able to afford all the chiropractic help he needs very soon.

Executives around the league increasingly are saying that Tyrese Maxey is headed for a max contract extension with the Sixers, per @SeanDeveney

A max deal could be worth five years and about $200 million for Maxey pic.twitter.com/fOWq8i6jbR

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 7, 2023

Other Cats in the NBA

While Maxey is proving his worth, other former Cats are reminding management how they earned lofty contracts in the first place. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 22 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s comfortable 114-98 win over the Utah Jazz.

Down south, Devin Booker took a backseat to Kevin Durant in the Phoenix Suns’ 119-115 win against the Denver Nuggets. Although Booker didn’t lead the charge, he certainly contributed. The former ‘Cat dropped 15 points and eight assists in the win. Jamal Murray did not suit up for the Nuggets, which have locked up the Western Conference’s top seed.

THE PHOENIX SUNS REMAIN UNDEFEATED WITH KEVIN DURANT‼️🔥 pic.twitter.com/RH9wJcULTI

— Booker Muse ✪ (@DevinBookerMuse) April 7, 2023

4/7/2023 Statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Keldon Johnson (SA)	129-127 W vs. POR	24	10-24 (1-8)	5	4	1	0	2	+1	32
Tyler Herro (MIA)	129-101 W @ PHI	24	7-17 (5-8)	4	5	1	0	1	+19	32
Kevin Knox II (POR)	129-127 L @ SA	24	9-15 (3-6)	3	2	0	0	4	-2	24
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	114-98 W @ UTAH	22	7-19 (1-5)	7	7	1	0	1	+7	38
Devin Booker (PHX)	119-115 W vs. DEN	15	3-12 (1-5)	1	8	0	0	2	+10	37
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	129-101 W @ PHI	14	7-11 (0-0)	8	1	0	0	0	+7	24
Olivier Sarr (OKC)	114-98 W @ UTAH	0	0-0 (0-0)	0	0	0	0	0	-2	2

Tonight in the NBA

7:00: Rockets @ Hornets (PJ Washington: out, Richards)
7:00: Pistons (Diallo: out) @ Pacers (Jackson)
7:00: Heat (Herro: questionable, Adebayo: out) @ Wizards
7:30: 76ers (Maxey: out) @ Hawks
7:30: Raptors @ Celtics
7:30: Magic @ Nets
8:00 (NBA TV): Grizzlies @ Bucks
8:00: Knicks (Randle: out, Quickley) @ Pelicans
8:30: Bulls @ Mavericks
10:00: Warriors @ Kings (Fox, Monk, Lyles — all questionable)
10:30 (NBA TV): Suns (Booker) @ Lakers (Davis: questionable, Gabriel, Vanderbilt)