BBNBA: Booker and KAT Both Drop Over 30

ZGeogheganKSR

(Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Good morning, folks. Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns both dropped over 30 points on Saturday. Let’s talk NBA.

RECAP

Karl-Anthony Towns and his Minnesota Timerbwolves squad had a chance to pick up a tidy win against one of the Western Conference elites, but couldn’t get their final shot to fall. Towns led his team with 31 points on 12-19 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. He also had a look at the final shot after his teammate, Luol Deng, missed a corner three-pointer, but couldn’t get it off in time.
”Got a good look,” Towns said. ”It just didn’t go in.”

For the Nuggets, Jamal Murray sat out his fifth straight game and there is now some worry within the Denver organization that this ankle sprain could be worse than anticipated. There is currently no timetable for his return, but he wasn’t ruled out of Saturday’s game until before tipoff.
“There is a big difference between saying someone can play and he can play effectively,” Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said after Friday’s game. “Right now, Jamal knows right now that he is in no shape to go out there and play on that ankle.”
Helping pick up the slack was Trey Lyles, who poured in 19 points on 8-13 shooting while pulling down six rebounds. This was the first game since late November that Lyles scored at least 19 points. The Nuggets have been rolling in Murray’s absence thanks to the heightened play of reserve players Malik Beasley and Torrey Craig, so it’s nice to see Lyles get into the mix as well. Hopefully, he can continue that play.

The battle between Rajon Rondo (LAL) and DeMarcus Cousins (GSW) in Oracle Arena did not disappoint. With LeBron James sitting out for rest, the Warriors were able to beat down the Lakers at home behind 28 points from Klay Thompson. Rondo registered 12 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists for the Lakers, who were also missing Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram to various injuries. Cousins, on the other hand, looked as spry as ever. Boogie posted 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists for his first double-double of the season. He also made sure everyone in the world knew he was officially back when he sent Kyle Kuzma to the Upside Down with a smothering third-quarter dunk that resulted in a nasty stare down and a technical for taunting. Boogie is back, baby.

In Phoenix, Devin Booker led the BBNBA in scoring with 32 points in a loss against the Atlanta Hawks. Booker shot 13-27 from the field and also recorded eight rebounds and 10 assists in 42 minutes.

The Sacramento Kings picked up a huge win against the Philadelphia 76ers behind 19 points from both De’Aaron Fox and Willie Cauley-Stein. Fox contributed three rebounds, eight assists, and three steals while WCS added nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals as the Kings won 115-108 at home.

Malik Monk continued his mini scoring streak for the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday against the Bulls, posting 18 points on 6-9 shooting in addition to three rebounds and five assists. Monk is averaging 17 points on 46 percent shooting from the field and 42.9 percent from three over his last four games.
Check out the full stat sheet below and go Rams, I suppose.