BBNBA: Anthony Davis puts up 40; Lakers keep winning

Former Kentucky players in the NBA have been on a tear recently with one guy seemingly putting up a 40-burger each game. Such was the case on Sunday when Anthony Davis hit the milestone (to go along with nine rebounds and two blocks) in just 30 minutes of action in the Los Angeles Lakers’ route of the Houston Rockets.

Those needing a pick-me-up from the March Madness blues in the form of former Kentucky basketball players dominating games in the NBA have enjoyed some healthy therapy in the last few weeks. Since the ‘Cats were eliminated in the second round, we have seen career-high outings from PJ Washington, Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, and some guy named Shaedon Sharpe. We’ve seen Karl-Anthony Towns sink game-winning shots upon returning from injury, multiple scoring explosions from Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nick Richards getting paid.

It is not the same as watching Kentucky in the Final Four, but it helps.

Back to Sunday, Davis’ 40 points led all scores and propelled the Lakers to their seventh win in their last 10 games. They now sit just a half-game back from the sixth spot in the Western Conference, which would advance them out of the Play-In tournament.

I have to admit, I did not think it was possible, but Davis has come back stronger than ever post-injury and led the improbable charge. Jarred Vanderbilt has helped too, though last night was not his best outing. He played just 15 minutes and scored two points. Similar to Wenyen Gabriel the week before, Vanderbilt must have started celebrating his birthday a little early.

Happy birthday, Vando.

Speaking of Gabriel, he also chipped in two points in the Lakers’ win. As for the Rockets, TyTy Washington did not play as he was too busy helping his team reach the G League finals.

We have to talk about Shaedon Sharpe

Now that all the BBNBA endorphins are bouncing, let’s pop a few of those bubbles with the news that Shaedon Sharpe is that dude. On Sunday, Sharpe had 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the Portland Trail Blazers’ upset victory over the playoff-seeking Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the first Trail Blazers rookie to score 25 points or more in three consecutive games.

With Damian Lillard out for the remainder of the season, the Blazers are in full-on, get-ready-for-the-future mode and have firmly placed Shaedon Sharpe at the front of the vanguard in that battle. In the last seven games, Sharpe has posted scoring lines of 27, 27, 30, 12, 29, 24, and 24.

As one KSBoard poster put it when describing Sharpe’s recent excellence, “Pain. So much pain.”

Kevin Knox also had a nice scoring output for the Blazers, putting up 19 points as he looks to make a strong late-season showing in hopes of sticking around in the league next season.

Sunday’s loss to a team intent on tanking was a tough blow for the Timberwolves’ playoff push. KAT had his worst game since his return, scoring just eight points, though he did grab nine boards. The Wolves are still in a good spot to make the Play-In, especially with the Mavericks being poisoned by the Kyrie Irving acquisition, but with just a few more games left in the regular season, every win counts.

Other BBNBA Notes

• Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another epic battle, but in spite of SGA’s 39 points, Book (22 points) and Kevin Durant won their fifth straight game to all but assure them 4th place in the West for the Phoenix Suns.
• The Sacramento Kings are ready for the regular season to end so they can participate in their first playoffs in the last 16 years. On Sunday, they fell to the Spurs in overtime despite De’Aaron Fox‘s 38 points. Trey Lyles chipped in three points in the loss.
• Tyrese Maxey, fresh off his podcast interview with friend and former Kentucky teammate Immanuel Quickley, dropped 29 points but the 76ers could not get past the Bucks in what could be a playoff preview.
• Speaking of Quickley, he scored 22 points in a starting role, as Julius Randle remains out with an ankle injury. The Knicks beat the Wizards and are coasting to what will likely be a 5th place finish in the East.
• Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets bested the defending champion, Golden State Warriors, even without MVP Nikola Jokic playing. The Blue Arrow had 26 points and eight assists on the evening as Denver remains the team to beat in the West.

4/2/2023 Statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Anthony Davis (LAL)	134-109 W vs. HOU	40	15-20 (0-0)	9	1	0	2	0	30	+2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	118-128 L vs. PHX	39	11-22 (0-0)	3	5	2	0	1	38	-6
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	104-117 L vs. MIL	29	9-5 (6-7)	4	2	1	0	1	35	-13
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	134-142 L vs. SAS	28	10-23 (0-8)	4	4	0	0	1	38	-3
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	107-105 W vs. MIN	27	9-19 (2-7)	6	6	0	0	1	35	-3
Jamal Murray (DEN)	112-110 W vs. GSW	26	10-21 (3-8)	3	8	2	2	3	41	+8
Devin Booker (PHX)	128-118 W vs. OKC	22	8-14 (1-5)	5	10	1	0	5	37	+5
Immanuel Quickley (NYK)	118-109 W vs. WAS	22	8-18 (3-6)	6	5	3	0	1	37	-2
Kevin Knox (POR)	107-105 W vs. MIN	19	8-15 (2-6)	4	1	3	0	1	29	0
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	105-107 L vs. POR	8	2-8 (2-6)	9	3	0	0	3	25	+2
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	105-115 L vs. CLE	3	1-5 (0-0)	2	1	0	2	2	21	-8
Trey Lyles (SAC)	134-142 L vs. SAS	3	1-3 (1-2)	3	1	1	2	1	12	+6
Wenyen Gabriel (LAL)	134-109 W vs. HOU	2	1-3 (0-1)	3	0	0	1	1	14	+14
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	134-109 W vs. HOU	2	1-2 (0-0)	4	1	1	0	0	15	+4
Malik Monk (SAC)	134-142 L vs. SAS	DNP-Leg
TyTy Washington (HOU)	109-134 L vs. LAL	DNP-G League
Keldon Johnson (SAS)	142-134 W vs. SAC	DNP-Foot
PJ Washington (CHA)	108-128 L vs. TOR	DNP-Foot
Nick Richards (CHA)	108-128 L vs. TOR	DNP-CD
Olivier Sarr (OKC)	118-128 L vs. PHX	DNP-CD
Hamidou Diallo (DET)	102-128 L vs. ORL	DNP-Ankle
Julius Randle (NYK)	118-109 W vs. WAS	DNP-Ankle

Tonight in the NBA

In an effort to not split the viewership of basketball lovers everywhere, there are no NBA games tonight so you can tune into the NCAA Championship game. The NBA will return with a full slate of games on Tuesday.

Go anyone-but-UCONN.