SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In an impressive display of skill and determination, De’Aaron Fox tallied a remarkable 60 points during a thrilling 130-126 overtime defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Teammate Malik Monk enthusiastically encouraged him, playfully suggesting, “You might as well go get 60,” when Fox had already amassed 48 points by the fourth quarter.
Fox’s performance has etched his name into franchise history, surpassing Jack Twyman’s 59 points from 1960 and DeMarcus Cousins’ 56-point showcase in 2016, marking the highest score by a player since the franchise relocated to Sacramento in 1985. “I knew I was nice already, so I wouldn’t really say so,” Fox remarked when reflecting on his outing and if he learned anything new about his abilities.
With an outstanding shooting night, Fox connected on 22 of 35 attempts from the field, including six three-pointers out of ten, and he was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, making 10 of 11. By halftime, he had already accumulated 21 points, and his efforts fueled a remarkable comeback for the Kings, who trailed by 20 points in the second half, starting with a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“I wanted this game to end in the fourth quarter, so I don’t even want to have the opportunity to (get 60 points), but my teammates wanted me to keep going, obviously,” Fox explained about his mindset during the game. Coach Mike Brown acknowledged Fox’s leadership, especially with key players Monk and DeMar DeRozan sidelined due to injuries. “He knew we needed help and he put us on his back, and he almost carried us to the finish line,” Brown praised. “He did everything in his power, and it was a spectacular performance by him.”
This game marked the first 60-point outing in the NBA for the current season. Keegan Murray noted the challenge of balancing the offense while also ensuring that Fox got ample opportunities to score. However, he felt that the Kings did a commendable job managing the game in tune with Fox’s extraordinary performance. “When he’s aggressive all the time, he’s extremely tough to stop,” Murray explained, further emphasizing how Fox’s assertiveness dictated the flow of the game.
The contest witnessed Fox and Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards exchange scoring blows late in the game, with Edwards finishing with 36 points, leading his team to a hard-fought victory. Edwards expressed his admiration for Fox’s talent, stating, “I’ve always felt like he was underrated, underappreciated by everybody. And he showed us today who he is. To me, he’s one of the best point guards in the league, and he showed it.” He added, “That’s what you love about the game, the best two players on the floor going at each other, so that was fun.”
Despite this incredible individual performance, Fox remains humble and recognizes the importance of team success over personal accolades. Having made just one All-Star team in his eight seasons, he continues to take pride in his accomplishments, saying, “Obviously, at the end of the day, that type of performance, that type of accomplishment, is nothing to just breathe over and let go. It’s definitely cool.”
