Keegan Murray breaks out of slump, sets rookie franchise record in Game 4

Even Keegan Murray thought that he was due after experiencing a rough start to his first appearance in the NBA Playoffs.

Murray had a break-through performance during the Sacramento Kings’ Game 4 loss in San Francisco on Sunday as the rookie scored 23 points on nine-of-13 shooting (five-of-seven from three-point range) to go along with seven rebounds over 33 minutes of action.

The Golden State Warriors had done an excellent job of containing Kings sharpshooters Murray and Kevin Huerter’s three-point game, which gave Sacramento trouble during the first three games of the series (27% from three-point range as a team).

Murray and the rest of the offense found a rhythm on Sunday, going 14-of-35 (40%) from three-point range during a heartbreaking 126-125 loss at Chase Center.

As the series moves back to Golden 1 Center for a huge Game 5 on Wednesday night, Sacramento has to feel encouraged about the emergence of Murray, who had been a clear negative for the team during the first three games of this best-of-seven series.

The fourth-overall pick out of Iowa averaged 3.3 points per game on 23 percent shooting from the field and 13 percent from three-point range in Games 1 through 3, but the fourth matchup of this playoff series unlocked Murray’s offensive skillset.

“I’ve just tried to be more aggressive throughout the playoffs and I knew eventually I’d catch my stride on the offensive end, so it’s just a matter of time and I came in confident,” Murray said of his breakthrough performance. “Just tried to figure out what they are doing against me and just try to figure out how I can get open looks.”

It wasn’t just spot-up triples for the rookie on Sunday, either. Keegan Murray was creating on his own off-the-dribble, coming off of dribble-hand-offs, and scoring in transition during the one-point loss.

Murray, who has set multiple rookie records–both NBA and Kings franchise–this season, established another Sacramento-era (1985-present) record during his 23-point outing.

The forward broke Hedo Türkoğlu’s rookie record for points scored in a single game–22 points during Game 4 of a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 13, 2001.

It was another impressive game from Murray, a player that is still in his first NBA season–something that head coach Mike Brown has continued to note during his pre and postgame press conferences.

“Look, Keegan is a rookie. He’s starting and he’s got to understand that he gets no passes. He’s got to bring it like everybody else and if he’s not bringing it like everybody else, he’s going to hear from me,” Brown said when asked about how hard he is on Murray.

“I mean, Keegan has got a chance to be a great player in this league and I thought he stepped up tonight and showed why he’s first team all rookie. He’s the only rookie I think in a lottery that’s still playing and playing a significant role for his team, and he, tonight, almost helped us get over the hump. So I’ve got no complaints with the way he played tonight.”

“In Game 5, we have to defend home court. We have to be the more aggressive team offensively and defensively [like] we were the first two games.”

🎙 Keegan Murray on how the team plans on responding at home in Game 5@kpgreatersac | #FeelTheRoar pic.twitter.com/kbyvdPQBY2

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 23, 2023

Brown has a point. Keegan Murray is the lone top-10 pick from the 2022 NBA Draft that is participating in the postseason, but the rookie is beginning to find his playoff legs.

Although a chance to take a 3-1 series lead was there for the taking, Murray’s emergence as a threat on offense could benefit the Kings as they return home–a place that Murray shot 44 percent from three-point range this season.

With the series tied at 2-2 and a massive Game 5 at Golden 1 Center set to take place on Wednesday night, we are now entering crunch time in what has been an overall thrilling series between these two Northern California heavyweights.

If Sacramento wants to advance to the second round, a win in Game 5 would put them in the driver’s seat–but that’s a lot easier said than done.

Teams playing on their home floor haven’t lost a game in this series so far, and the Kings will need to continue to use a home-court advantage if they want to regain the series lead on Wednesday.

“We have to defend home court,” Murray said of Game 5. “We have to be the more aggressive team offensively and defensively [like] we were the first two games.”

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule

NBA Western Conference Playoffs – First Round

• Wednesday, April 26th – Game 5: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PST
• Friday, April 28th – Game 6**: Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – TBD
• Sunday, April 30th – Game 7**: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – TBD

**If necessary

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