NBA Game Notes (April 15, 2023)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on April 15, 2023.
Kings Outfox Warriors
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 38 points in his NBA postseason debut as the Sacramento Kings beat the Golden State Warriors 126-123 in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series. The Kings scored 71 points in the second half, tied for the second-highest scoring half in a playoff game in franchise history.
Fox shot 13-27 from the field — including 4-8 from 3-point range — and made eight of his 12 free throws. Only one player in NBA history has scored more points in his first career playoff game:
42 — Luka Doncic (Aug. 17, 2020)
38 — De’Aaron Fox (April 15, 2023)
38 — John Williamson* (April 11, 1979)
37 — George Mikan* (March 23, 1949)
* Both Williamson (29 games) and Mikan (21) had prior professional postseason experience, Williamson in the ABA and Mikan in the NBL.
The Kings’ Malik Monk came off the bench to score 32 points in 29 minutes, shooting 8-13 from the field and hitting all 14 of his free throws. Only one player in NBA history has made more free throws in his postseason debut:
16 — Arvydas Sabonis (April 25, 1996)
14 — Malik Monk (April 15, 2023)
14 — Luka Doncic (Aug. 17, 2020)
Monk also tied the franchise record for most free throws made in a playoff game without a miss.
Fox and Monk became just the second teammates in NBA history to each score at least 30 points in their first career playoff game. They join the Charlotte Hornets’ Alonzo Mourning and Kendall Gill, who did so on April 29, 1993.
Kings center Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds. Sabonis struggled from the field, though, hitting just five of his 17 attempts.
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored a team-high 30 points in the loss, shooting 11-20 from the field with six 3-pointers made. It’s the 37th time Curry has scored at least 30 points with five 3-pointers made in a playoff game, 20 more such games than any other player in NBA history.
Teammate Klay Thompson scored 21 points with five 3-pointers made. It’s the 14th time Curry and Thompson have each made at least five 3-pointers in the same playoff game. No other duo in NBA history has recorded more than three such games.
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