BBNBA: Immanuel Quickley explodes for career-high 38 points in 2OT Knicks win
The ‘Cats in the NBA showed out on Sunday. Five former Kentucky players scored over 30 points and led their team to a victory. In fact, dubs were plentiful for teams who roster Kentucky alumni with a combined 14-3 record on the day. While there are many guys to highlight, first and foremost, the spotlight goes to Immanuel Quickley.
With Jalen Brunson out, Quickley got the start for the New York Knicks against the Boston Celtics and put on a show. In an incredible 55 minutes of action across two overtimes, IQ dropped a career-high 38 points. No one in the NBA has played more minutes in a single game all year.
Quickley was scoring in every way imaginable: drives, 3s, and of course, floaters. He was also the person with the ball in his hands in the clutch and there were plenty of clutch possessions in the thrilling double-OT victory. Quickley filled up the rest of the stat sheet too with eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks.
Typically, it has been Julius Randle, who finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, leading the Knickerbockers, but Sunday was IQ’s time to shine. The Knicks have now won nine straight games but it is Randle and Quickley who make them a fun team to watch.
Booker scores 36 and lets Luka Doncic know about it
Devin Booker is one of the most low-key trash-talkers in the game. He also hates the Dallas Mavericks. Now armed with Kevin Durant and the best chance in his career to win an NBA title, he took Sunday’s game against the Mavs as a playoff practice round.
The game was intense from the start, but after a Kevin Durant jumper in the final minute, the Suns took the lead. Doncic had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds but missed a bunny near the rim, sealing the Maverick’s defeat. Immediately afterward, Booker pointed to the floor right where Doncic missed the shot to remind him of how easy of a look it was. Luka took offense and got up in Book’s face in a classic NBA chest-to-chest-with-no-threat-of-a-fight confrontation.
After the game, Booker told the media, “You guys say you don’t want everybody to be friendly, friendly. There you go. We got some smoke.”
Booker also added 10 assists and five rebounds on the night as the Phoenix Suns move to 3-0 with Kevin Durant on the roster.
Gilgeous-Alexander goes for 38 in Olivier Sarr’s OKC debut
After a five-game absence, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back to circumnavigating the stat sheet like his name does on the back of his jersey. On Sunday, SGA casually dropped Immanuel Quickley’s career-high, 38 points, in the Thunder’s win over the Utah Jazz. He also contributed seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
The first-year All-Star had been dealing with a pair of ailments with his ankle and knee but was healthy enough to return to the court and pick up right where he left off.
Sunday also marked the Oklahoma City Thunder season debut for former Kentucky big man, Olivier Sarr. The Portland Trail Blazers waived Sarr earlier in the season following an injury, but OKC, where he played some last season, picked him up recently.
Sarr played 11 minutes and scored two points in return to the court.
Anthony Davis wills the Lakers to victory with 39 points
You know it was a big day in the BBNBA world if we are in subsection four and just now getting to the fact Anthony Davis scored 39 points, leading all former ‘Cats. With no LeBron James in the lineup, Davis took over as the primary scoring option as he tries to help Los Angeles inch back toward the playoffs.
Davis added eight rebounds and six assists as the Lakers edged the Golden State Warriors, 113-105.
AD’s newest Kentucky teammate, Jarred Vanderbilt, who has been on a tear since joining the Lakers at the trade deadline, put up a familiar performance as well. Vando finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and a game-high +25 in the +/- category.
Wenyen Gabriel chipped in two points for the Lakers as well.
With no LeBron, it will be an uphill climb for the Lakers but with a Kentucky trio on the team, anything is possible. Just ask the Kings.
Other BBNBA Notes
- Shaedon Sharpe had a standard Shaedon Sharpe game with eight points on 3-6 shooting, but with one of those field goals coming by way of a monstrous dunk. The Blazers beat the Magic 122-119.
- PJ Washington and Nick Richards have had better games. The Hornets scored just 86 points against the Nets, with Washington contributing eight and Richards failing to get on the board.
- Similarly, Keldon Johnson managed just eight points for the Spurs in their loss to the Rockets. TyTy Washington scored five points for Houston while new teammate, Willie Cauley-Stein, did not see the court.
- In Indiana, Isaiah Jackson played 20 minutes, scored six points, and grabbed seven rebounds in the Pacers’ win over the Bulls.
3/5/2023 Statistics
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | MIN | +/- |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 113-105 W vs. GSW | 39 | 14-25 (1-3) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 38 | +17 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 129-119 W vs. UTA | 38 | 10-17 (1-2) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 37 | +5 |
| Immanuel Quickley (NYK) | 131-129 W vs. BOS | 38 | 15-28 (5-12) | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 55 | +8 |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 130-126 W vs DAL | 36 | 15-25 (1-3) | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 40 | +36 |
| Julius Randle (NYK) | 131-129 W vs. BOS | 31 | 11-22 (5-13) | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 47 | -8 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL) | 113-105 W vs. GSW | 10 | 5-11 (0-2) | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24 | +25 |
| Keldon Johnson (SAS) | 110-142 L vs. HOU | 8 | 3-10 (1-4) | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 27 | -22 |
| Shaedon Sharpe (POR) | 122-119 W vs. ORL | 8 | 3-6 (2-5) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 | -6 |
| PJ Washington (CHA) | 86-102 L vs. BRK | 8 | 3-11 (2-6) | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 36 | -11 |
| Isaiah Jackson (IND) | 125-122 W vs. CHI | 6 | 3-6 (0-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | +9 |
| TyTy Washington (HOU) | 142-110 W vs. SAS | 5 | 2-4 (1-3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +3 |
| Wenyen Gabriel (LAL) | 113-105 W vs. GSW | 2 | 1-2 (0-0) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | -9 |
| Olivier Sarr (OKC) | 129-119 W vs. UTA | 2 | 1-4 (0-2) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | +3 |
| Nick Richards (CHA) | 86-102 L vs. BRK | 0 | 0-1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | -19 |
| Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC) | 135-129 W vs. MEM | DNP-G-League | ||||||||
| Kevin Knox (POR) | 122-119 W vs. ORL | DNP-CD | ||||||||
| Willie Cauley-Stein (HOU) | 142-110 W vs. SAS | DNP-CD |
Tonight in the NBA
7:00: Celtics @ Cavaliers
7:00: 76ers (Maxey) @ Pacers (Jackson)
7:00: Trail Blazers (Sharpe, Knox) @ Pistons (Diallo)
7:30 (NBA TV): Hawks @ Heat (Adebayo, Herro)
9:00: Raptors @ Nuggets (Murray)
10:00: Pelicans @ Kings (Fox, Monk, Lyles)
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