BBNBA: Devin Booker leads Suns again; SGA's effort falls short
We are just over halfway through the 2021-22 NBA season and things are really heating up. Several former Kentucky stars are leading their teams in hopes of a playoff spot. Here’s who:
Knicks continue to struggle in Cleveland
After starting the season on a hot streak, the New York Knicks have struggled in this mid-season mark. They have now lost four of their last five games after dropping a 95-93 nail-biter to the Cavaliers on Monday night.
RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Former Kentucky Wildcat Julius Randle added 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks to the effort. Randle, named last season’s Most Improved Player, is averaging 18.9 points per game this season–down from the 24.1 he averaged last season. Randle hit some clutch last-minute buckets in this one, earning him the final shot to win the game with just seconds left. Unfortunately he could not convert and the Cavs went on to win it by a basket.
Nerlens Noel ended the game with just two points of his own, but made up for it elsewhere. He snagged 13 boards and two steals throughout the game. Immanuel Quickley was relatively quiet on offense as well, ending with just three points on 1-10 from the field. Quick did dish out six assists in his 26 minutes on the court, though.
It was Kevin Love who stepped up for the Cavaliers. Love came off the bench to score 20 points and snag 11 defensive rebounds. He was 6-12 from the 3-point line. Evan Mobley contributed a double-double as well with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Rajon Rondo added eight points, four rebounds and three assists to the effort–one where every little bit counted. It was Rondo’s first game in Cleveland as a Cavalier since being traded by the Lakers earlier this month–and he still got range.
SGA & Thunder fall just short against Bulls
Former star Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to impress for a team that isn’t doing much to help him out. Last night was the perfect example. SGA finished with 31 points, 10 assists and three steals. He has scored 29+ points in six of his last eight games. He is averaging 22.8 points per game this season, just slightly down from last season’s average of 23.7.
Luguentz Dort added 16 points to the OKC effort, followed by 14 from Mike Muscala. The Thunder went on a 19-3 run to get within one point in the final minutes of the game, but the Chicago Bulls were determined to leave Oklahoma with a win. Following the loss, the Thunder have fallen to 14-33 on the season–tied for last in the Western Conference.
The Bulls (now 29-17) have found more success this season. At one point, they had won nine straight games stretching from mid-December to early January and were looking like a genuine contender. However, they faced some doubts after a four-game skid earlier this month. But you couldn’t tell last night. Four of the five Bulls starters scored in the double-digits, led by 26 from Nikola Vucevic. Ayo Dosunmu and Zach LaVine added 24 and 23, respectively. Chicago’s leading scorer DeMar DeRozan did not play.
Jazz at Suns
The Phoenix Suns will remain comfortably atop the Western Conference standings after a 115-109 win over the Utah Jazz last night at home. The Suns, who lost in last year’s NBA Finals, have now won seven straight and 10 of their last 12–and they couldn’t do it without the help of a very familiar face.
Former ‘Cat Devin Booker once again led the Suns in points last night. This time, the rising star ended with 33 to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Booker is averaging 26.2 points in his last 10 games and has led his team in points in more than half of their games this season.
Veteran point guard Chris Paul was spectacular as well, ending just shy of a triple-double with 27 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. Cam Johnson added 20 points. Star big man and former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton did not play due to a right ankle sprain. Ayton is the teams second-highest scorer. Long story short, these guys are pretty good.
But the Jazz, even without most of its starters, isn’t bad either. All five of Utah’s starters scored in double-digits, along with two guys off their bench. The Jazz are now 30-18 on the season and sitting at No. 4 in the West.
Full stats from last night’s games:
| Player | Result | Points | FG (3PA) | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Minutes | +/- |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 115-109 W over Jazz | 33 | 14-35 (3-13) | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 38 | -3 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 111-110 L to Bulls | 31 | 9-17 (2-5) | 3 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 39 | +2 |
| Julius Randle (NYK) | 95-93 L to Cavaliers | 18 | 6-17 (2-7) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 33 | -22 |
| Rajon Rondo (CLE) | 95-93 W over Knicks | 8 | 3-4 (2-3) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 8 | +4 |
| Isaiah Jackson (IND) | 117-113 L to Pelicans | 6 | 2-4 (0-1) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | +9 |
| Immanuel Quickley (NYK) | 95-93 L to Cavaliers | 3 | 1-10 (1-6) | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | +12 |
| Nerlens Noel (NYK) | 95-93 L to Cavaliers | 2 | 1-1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | -1 |
Today in the NBA
7:00: Pelicans @ 76ers (Maxey)
7:00: Nuggets (Cousins, Murray: out) @ Pistons (Diallo, Lyles)
7:00: Hornets (Richards, Washington) @ Raptors
7:00: Clippers (Bledsoem Boston) @ Wizards
7:30: Kings (Fox) @ Celtics (Freedom)
7:30 (TNT): Lakers (Davis, Monk) @ Nets
8:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Rockets (Wall: out)
10:00 (TNT): Mavericks @ Warriors
10:00: Timberwolves (Towns, Vanderbilt) @ Trail Blazers
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