Keegan Murray scored a career-high 47 points as the Sacramento Kings continued their good form with a 125-104 win over the Utah Jazz, but the forward's coach Mike Brown thinks he is "barely scratching the surface" of his potential.
The Kings eased to a fourth win in their last five games on Saturday, with the Jazz unable to respond after allowing 44 points in the third quarter.
Murray scored a franchise-best 26 points in the third period, while his 12 three-pointers across the course of the contest were also a record for a Sacramento player.
Murray had Klay Thompson's single-game league record of 14 three-pointers in his sights until he missed with two late attempts, meaning he had to settle for becoming just the seventh player to make a dozen or more threes in one outing.
Brown, however, believes there is still more to come from last year's fourth overall draft pick.
"I thought Keegan was playing the right way," Brown said. "Nothing was really forced. Our guys didn't really force anything to him. They just hit him when he was open.
"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.
chill lil' 47-ball. franchise record in 3s made in a single game. no biggie. @CoorsLight #MadeToChill pic.twitter.com/BVYta6aivr
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 17, 2023
"With his work ethic, his determination, his skill set and all that other stuff, he's got 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."
Saturday's win saw Sacramento improve to 15-9 for the season, with Domantas Sabonis adding 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, registering his 20th double-double of the season.
The Jazz, meanwhile, saw their winning streak snapped at two games, and coach Will Hardy accepted there was little they could do to stop Murray in that vein of form.
"Keegan never let us off the hook," he said. "Every time you make a mistake, he makes the shot.
"The percentages will tell you that's not necessarily realistic either, but it was one of those nights. He's obviously a very good young player, so hats off to him."
