Keegan Murray, the Sacramento Kings’ talented second-year forward, was on the edge of breaking records during Saturday night’s game against the Utah Jazz. Leading the Kings to a 125-104 victory, Murray scored 12 three-pointers and made a career-high 47 points.
Murray’s 12 out of 13 attempts from beyond the arc brought him very close to breaking Klay Thompson’s NBA record of 14 three-pointers in a game. Although he missed his final two shots from three-point range, he became just the seventh player in NBA history to make 12 or more three-pointers in a single game.
Kings head coach Mike Brown faced serious criticism from fans who believed his coaching decisions prevented Murray from breaking Thompson’s record. After Murray missed his last two three-point attempts, Brown substituted him, which might have caused him to lose his rhythm. As the Kings maintained their lead, Murray was eventually pulled from the game.
Keegan Murray tonight:
47 PTS (26 in 3rd)
12 3PM (!!!)
8 REB7th player in NBA history to make 12+ 3PM in a game. https://t.co/6hovNe2WdF
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 17, 2023
One fan wrote, “45 points and 12 3pm in the first 3 quarters btw, could’ve gotten the record but Mike brown wasn’t letting him.” Comments like “Mike Brown ruined it” and “Mike Brown will pay” highlight the frustration of many fans who felt that Murray could have surpassed the record if he remained in the game.
Domantas Sabonis also had an outstanding game, adding 20 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. It was his seventh consecutive double-double and 20th of the season. The Kings were impressive from beyond the arc, shooting 22 of 45 from the three-point line.
The Jazz struggled to keep pace. Colin Sexton led the Jazz with 28 points, followed by Lauri Markkanen’s 18. The Kings took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 44-26, with Murray breaking a franchise record for points in a quarter.
Keegan Murray broke Donovan Mitchell’s three-point rookie record
Keegan Murray’s exceptional talent was noticeable in his rookie season when he set a new NBA record for the most three-pointers by a rookie. Murray surpassed Donovan Mitchell’s record, which was set during the 2017-18 season with the Jazz, by scoring his 188th three-pointer against the Portland Trail Blazers.
What was more impressive was that he achieved that record with a 40.7% success rate from beyond the arc, the highest ever for a rookie with at least 400 attempts. During his record-breaking rookie season, Murray averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 80 games.
One of his best performances came against the Houston Rockets, where he scored a then career-high 30 points, including eight three-pointers. This game highlighted Murray’s potential as an offensive player in the NBA.