The Sacramento Kings hosted the Utah Jazz, but were without De’Aaron Fox as he rested a sore shoulder. No matter, the Kings easily dispatched the Jazz thanks to a career night from Keegan Murray. Look, I’ll briefly touch on other elements of this game, but the story of this game really starts and ends with the Kings sophomore becoming a superstar right in front of our eyes.
Keegan “Untouchable In Trade Talks” Murray finished with a career-high 47 points on 23 shots. He finished 12/15 from three, but was 12/13 at one point. He also added 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and played stout defense throughout the night, but the shooting display was INCREDIBLE. Keegan passed Buddy Hield for the franchise record for made threes in a single game. Keegan is one of 10 players in *NBA HISTORY* to make 12 threes in a game. Keegan Murray had such a great game that he even cracked a smile at one point. I seent it.
As for the rest of the squad, Domantas Sabonis had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Just another ho-hum near triple double. We’ve come to expect it from Domas, but I never want us to take it for granted. He’s so good.
Malik Monk had 18 points , and was really the only help that Sacramento got from the bench. Even though Monk had some huge highlights (an alley oop dunk, a huge three), he took 16 shots to get his points.
Harrison Barnes (16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) and Kevin Huerter (11 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) both had nice nights as well.
Keon Ellis started in place of De’Aaron Fox and had a really rough night. He finished with 2 points, 7 assists, and 1 rebounds, and was ejected from the game after picking up his second technical foul. He was complaining about a missed foul call that truly was a missed call, but Ellis has to be smart enough to not push the issue with the refs when he already had one tech. Ellis also struggled to contain Collin Sexton throughout the night. Sexton led the Jazz with 28 points.
Lauri Markkanen finished with 18 points for the Jazz, and left all in attendance wondering why Tim Maxwell would ever want to trade for Keegan for Lauri.
Keegan’s stock is high. We can trade him and a future second for Jaden Ivey. Make it happen Monty.
who is Jaden Ivey, anyway and what is his team’s record?
This was pre December 15, 2023. He’s still Lieutenant Spock in this gif
Keegan has no upside. Jaden does. End of story.
Trade, yes. Keegan, no. Needs to be Barnes or Huerter out of the starting lineup. Need more length, toughness, and versatility on the wings to make a deep playoff run. Mitchell and picks candidates to upgrade as well.
Mitchell and Edwards and 1 or 2 seconds for Tari Eason. Don’t need to trade all our firsts for a Siakam, Anunoby, Markkanen etc. Tari can defend, protect the weakside rim which we really need, rebound(almost 10 a game) run with the pace and shoot the 3. Barnes for Issac. Issac is now healthy can play center and when healthy is one of the best defenders in the league. Doesn’t have much of a ofensive game but that’s no what we are trading for. With both Eason and Issac we have defense along with our offense. And we keep our firsts.
I have always liked Isaac but figured a lot of people here would hate him because of his beliefs… I believe that we’re gonna need to find a trait similar to what you’re proposing for player like Eason. I honestly believe at the end of the season people will think the kings have their big three role players like monk, Lyles, etc..
I personally believe Issac wants to play basketball. There are so many beliefs in the US so why would one matter more than others. Just to be honest I am a Bible believing christian. Does that mean I can’t rote for the Kings.
An upstanding citizen. I would welcome him with open arms.
Basketball related, the health stuff is a concern. He also doesn’t get the minutes he probably needs to start producing like his first couple years.
I would welcome him with closed arms.
You can root for the Kings. Anyone can.
Beliefs… it’s not that one matters more than others. It’s more that in the case of working together as a team and being part of a group with such extreme beliefs could not go so well. It could also not matter. But… it could be bad as well. It’s an added risk that’s not worth taking in this scenario if you ask me.
Jack I like Isaac and really appreciate his dictation to his faith… I would welcome him and said in the past I thought he would be a good fit with this team….
Rote away, pal.
count me in on that. His beliefs are stupid as F. So much so I don’t think he’s mentally stable. I definitely don’t think he fits the vibe and personality of the beam team. Unfortunately
As long as the Rockets are okay taking on $3.5M and cutting another player to get two players that won’t be part of their rotation while giving up the 22 year old 6’8″ versatile defender shooting over 40% from 3.
Mitchell will help immedfiately and Edwards is a up and coming good defensive forward. Eason at this time is riding the bench. If you want to cut Edwards from the list. I still think you can get Eason. 2 seconds aren’t chicken feed.
Mitchell is unlikely to get minutes over Aaron Holiday. VanVleet, Green, Brooks, and Amen Thompson are all going to play minutes at guard over Mitchell. If Edwards was up and coming, why isn’t he playing on a team desperate for a player with his theoretical skill set? Second round picks can be acquired with cash similar to the amount your trade would require the Rockets to take on. The Rockets are a team that spent to compete now coming into the season. The players offered in your trade wouldn’t break the top 10 in their rotation while removing their best bench player.
I think Reggie Bullock or possibly Jae’Sean Tate are more realistic trade candidates from Houston.
You’re talking about Patrick Williams. This could work. Patrick Williams and Jonathan Isaac are two different birds.
I would not trade Huerter or HB midseason either. it’s a really cool team overall, fun to root for, and following up last year’s amazing season with another amazing one. let it ride.
When you have a team this good you have to take advantage of the window of opportunity. Standing pat is a waste of that window.
finishing top 6 in the competitive west again would be seizing the opportunity IMO. I’d be okay with a small move or two at the deadline, but I’d avoid any major shakeup in the middle of the season. and not trading future 1sts.
No it wouldn’t. Mike Brown is preaching championship mindset. To get bounced in the 1st round again would not be seizing an opportunity. It’s remaining mediocre. It is however a waste of Fox time with us. He needs another legit scoring option to help him. Keegan stepping up helped but against a bad Utah team it’s whatever. We need scorers to help Fox against the Clippers, Pelicans, Wolves, Nuggets, etc. Huerter and Barnes both are not good enough. One of them has to go to be truly competitive.
I’m not convinced they don’t already have what it takes to win it all.
Not if you can improve on defense where we need the most.
I agree unless you’re getting OG from the raptors.
if we don’t give away the team I’d really like Anunoby to be a Sacramento King. Just read a trade suggestion on Bleacher Report. Sounds fait.
Agree. Huerter is not consistent enough. 4 outta 5 games he’s kinda useless. Get a defender.
And Barnes 3/4 could use an upgrade, though he is solid. Younger Barnes would be perfect.
Keegan= awesome
A younger Barnes might be Rui Hackamura.
Murray with a statement game!
Congrats 3GAN Murray
Coach Brown: Keegan, Fox is sitting tonight, so I am changing your setting to godmode.
Keegan: K.
Coach: . . . That was a joke. You can smile once in a while.
Keegan: I am smiling. Coach, I have a question.
Coach: Shoot.
Keegan: K.
brilliant 🙂
https://imgur.com/2qfXmiV
I keep smiling every time I read this.
That’s a good feeling.
You can see the scene play out before your eyes. That’s good writing!
You made me happy in a rough week, and it didn’t take you long to do it. I appreciate you.
Sorry to hear this Yakshi. I hope things will get better soon.
Keegan for Markenon, for OG, for Pascal ?
well I guess that speculation is done.
I seen it. He shot, it went in, 11 times in a row and 12 overall. Looked like a regular shot.
My goodness.
Keegan – we’re going to need some scoring as Fox is out- can you pull something out of your hat?
&ct=g
Magic Murray
With tonight’s performance, Keegan elevated his 3FG% from .304 (38/125) to .357 (50/140)
Amazing how much difference a day makes
It’s been a weird season from 3 for Keegan.
He could easily go 7-10 next game, but also 1-8.
But he looks to be trending up.
I love what Keegan said about his shot “feeling like in college” IE-sounds like he’s getting comfortable in his role now.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that did the math to see what it would do to his 3 point %
Did Keegan make 11 threes in a row?
If so, is that an NBA record?
At one point I’m pretty sure he was 10 of 11 so that would be a no.
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/keegan-murray-cans-record-11-straight-3s-47/story?id=105721563
Well I stand corrected. An amazing display.
Got to see this night to remember in person! Only disappointment was no DeAaron Fox, but Kings played well and were in control the entire way, though it got close during the usual second quarter lull. Keegan had fairly open looks all night because the Defense was double teaming Domas who crushed them early and often. Many players contributed to Keegan’s stellar night.
We have a Keegan problem you almost made an imprint!
STUPID REFS!!!!
just kidding–KEEGAN RULES!!!!
I was at the game tonight. The last game I was at was the Brooklyn game last year. I should go to more games.
Maybe so! The Kings seem to run wild when you’re in the building.
Even Steph had a reaction to Keegan’s performance. 🙂
“Stay tuned” is right! Keegan is just getting started.
Meanwhile, Steph’s streak goes “Night, night!”
What a wild performance. Keegan is great but I wasn’t sure he has THIS in him. To do that with Fox out is something else. Now it’s just about the consistency. If he can maintain the defense and be that consistent 17/18 points a game this team will level up. Still need another big wing defender but having one already sure helps.
Amazing. You go, Keegan.
I hope we secured the game ball for Giannis, to avoid any controversy.
Okay, have rewatched the game and also rewatched Keegan’s highlights 3 more times.
This somehow reminds me a bit of the Omri-Curry shootout, perhaps with all the excitement building up as the 3’s fly. But this is so much more impressive and ended in a win.
People who were at this game will cherish it for years.
oh yeah. cool Kings trivia
Keegan Murray is PRETTY pretty good!
The eyes tell the story in the picture above.
It seems to depict the old saying….The hoop looked as big as the ocean.
There was a smile!
His yearly smile, and he had to try to hide it behind a towel!
Congratulations Keegan!
…and apologies Kevin Huerter.
It seemed like an excuse, but there might be something to the theory that his guarding the best player is making it tough for him on offense. He had a relatively relaxing night on defense and went supernova on offense.
Hate to change the subject but WTF Chance Comanche? Threw your life away.
Gloating is cruel and kicking a downed and devastated fan base in Detroit is petty and pathetic.
I know from 17 long tough ugly looking Kangz seasons (thank goodness for this awesome community). that the stink of misery was worse when outsiders (trolls to some) fouled with taunts and sewage. It’s purposefully hurtful and we’re better than that.
It must be horrible to be Detroit Pistons fan right now. I’d rather give them words of encouragement than disparaging barbs.
We’ve seen that ugly side which was only a yesterday or two ago. The Beatles 12th and final studio album was good advice:
Let it be.
Obligatory
I have no idea what any of that says because most is too small but I see lots of green on the Keegan side and no green on the Ivey side. Ivey is usually green. Not in this case however.
If you click on the picture, a version of the picture will pop up that you can expand to read clearly. Yeah, basically says that Keegs has playoff experience and Ivey has none. Playoff appearances or not, I think Keegs will be the better player in the long run.
This is all pretty disingenuous, and unseemly. Had Detroit had the fourth pick and chosen Ivey, this would be a fun bit of screw-you to the Pistons. And even if they were happy at the time to find Ivey available, there were people here, myself included, who would have selected Ivey over Murray.
And comparing both rosters ten minutes before the ’22 draft, Sacramento had much better personnel than Detroit. The Kings were going to be better that season no matter how the draft had played out.
And it’s impossible to say with any certainty that Ivey doesn’t have a very good rookie season playing with the Sacramento roster that season.
Lieutenant Spock just got promoted to commander Spock
(Laughs in +23)
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