Last Saturday night, when the Sacramento Kings played the Utah Jazz in the NBA, Keegan Murray was on fire from long range. Murray used to play hoops for Iowa.
Murray became the seventh player in NBA history to make at least 12 3-point shots in a game. The Kings beat the Clippers 125–104. An NBA record, he made 11 straight 3-point shots.
Murray had 47 points and made 12 of 15 shots from downtown. The NBA record is 14 3-pointers made in a game.
“I thought Keegan was playing the right way,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “There was nothing really forced. Our guys didn’t really force anything to him. They just hit him when he was open.”
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FOR KEEGAN MURRAY 🎯 pic.twitter.com/FycH2vy7v3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 17, 2023
Murray scored 45 points in the first three quarters, making 12 of 13 3-point shots.
He made 16 of 23 shots from the field and 3 of 4 from the foul line. His twin brother Kris plays for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. He also grabbed eight boards and stole two balls in 36 minutes.
Murray got a record-setting 26 points for the team in the third quarter.
“It kind of reminded me of my last year in college,” Murray said. “I’d get hot and I would just black out for a little bit, and so everything would just go in. That’s kind of what happened in the third quarter.”
Murray made his 12th 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, giving the Kings a 106-76 lead. This was their biggest lead of the game.
Keegan Murray to his team after scoring 47 points:
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) December 17, 2023
"Thanks guys" pic.twitter.com/8WAEUPCGDi
“Keegan never let us off the hook,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Every time you make a mistake, he makes the shot. The percentages will tell you, you know, that’s not necessarily realistic either, but it was one of those nights. And he’s obviously a very good young player, and hats off to him.”
Keegan Murray scored 19 points in the first half, and Sacramento led 62-50 at halftime.
“He’s just barely scratching the surface because he’s been asked to do something that he’s never been asked to do at the highest level,” Brown said. “With his work ethic, his determination, his skill set, and all that other stuff, he’s gotten a chance to be a high level player in a lot of different areas. Everybody’s just seeing a little bit of it now so there’s a ton of room to grow for sure.”
