NBA Game Reviews: January 29, 2021

Two rookies shined on Friday night as Tyrese Haliburton drained a clutch 3PM to help lift the Kings over Toronto and LaMelo Ball made a smart play in the clutch himself as they both added a few highlights as well (as seen below). LaMelo’s brother, Lonzo, along with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram were enough to lead the Pelicans past the Bucks despite Giannis’ top performance. Ice Trae became the fastest player ever to record 400 career 3PM in a Hawks win over Washington while Joe Ingles broke the all-time Jazz 3PM record as a cherry on top of Utah’s demolition vs. Dallas.

The Spurs are back to being a premier threat after ANOTHER impressive victory, this time vs. Denver. Ivica Zubac and Paul George threw down some posters in the Clippers colossal win in Orlando, Tobias Harris added a major dunk of his own during Philly’s dominant showing in the Twin Cities, and Immanuel Quickley heated up at the Garden to take down Cleveland. The Brooklyn Nets defense continues to be a problem as they gave up 125 points to the Thunder, but they continue to show that it doesn’t matter as they collectively dropped 147 (!) in Oklahoma City without OKC’s former MVP Kevin Durant suiting up.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from January 29th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Indiana Pacers (105) vs. Charlotte Hornets (108)

[Highlights] @HORNETS (+144; $12.44) d. PACERS (-144; $10.56) 108-105 [CHA +3.5 | u221.5]

[Highlights] KINGS (+165; $9.57) d. @RAPTORS (-165; $7.87) 126-124 [SAC +4 | o226.5]

[Highlights] @PELICANS (+239; $8.82) d. BUCKS (-239; $10.07) 131-126 [NOP +7 | o230]

[Highlights] @SPURS (+164; $14.01) d. NUGGETS (-164; $10.27) 119-109 [SAS +4 | o222]

[Highlights] HAWKS (-145; $11.38) d. @WIZARDS (+145; $7.65) 116-100 [ATL -3.5 | u234.5]

[Highlights] @JAZZ (-162; $12.50) d. MAVERICKS (+162; $8.92) 120-101 [UTA -4 | u222.5]

[Highlights] @KNICKS (-111; $14.24) d. CAVALIERS (+111; $13.34) 102-81 [NYK -1.5 | u209]

[Highlights] NETS (-237; $9.56) d. @THUNDER (+237; $9.24) 147-125 [BKN -7 | o229.5]

[Highlights] 76ERS (-236; $10.43) d. @TIMBERWOLVES (+236; $7.15) 118-94 [PHI -9.5 | u225]

[Highlights] CLIPPERS (-221; $11.23) d. @MAGIC (+221; $8.92) 116-90 [LAC -7 | u217]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

Trae Young became the fastest player (159 GP) to reach 400 3PM in NBA history (since 3-pt era began in 1979-80)
Zion Williamson has the highest FG% (58.5%) by any player in NBA history through their 1st 40 GP (min. 500 FGA)
Joe Ingles passed John Stockton for the most career 3PM (846) in Utah Jazz franchise history
Jazz have made the most 3PT (319) through 19 GP ever & had the most GP of 20+ 3PM (7) in a calendar month
Brooklyn Nets had 9 players score 10+ PTS for the 1st time in franchise history since 1984
Pelicans became the 1st NBA team to have 2 players with 7+ 3PM & another with 20+ REB in a single game ever
Nikola Jokic tied Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20) for the 2nd most double-doubles (19) to start a season since 1976
Trae Young has 3 career GP of 5+ 3PM/15+ FTM, which is tied for the 2nd most such games in NBA history
Bradley Beal (0-8) matched the most 3PA without a make by a Wizards player in franchise history
Beal is the 5th player to open a season with 14 consecutive 25+pt games in NBA history
Eric Bledsoe & Lonzo Ball had the most combined 3PM (14) in a game by a starting backcourt in Pelicans history
Immanuel Quickley became the 1st rookie ever with 25+ PTS, 5+ REB, 5+ 3PT off the bench in Knicks franchise history

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

The rook came to play on Friday

Tyrese Haliburton coming in clutch 🔥#CrunchTime pic.twitter.com/6VEPNLmQkP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1355341862593126400

Tobias spins & rocks the rim on MIN

Tobias Harris with AUTHORITY 😤 pic.twitter.com/WtHHJLJxiq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 30, 2021

LaMelo out of Left Field for the putback

LAMELO OUT OF NOWHERE 😱 pic.twitter.com/zZUX9oBGpO
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 30, 2021

Double hand jam right on his man

A full body SLAM 😤 pic.twitter.com/Jo5KaIUPZY
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 30, 2021

The reverse alley-oop from Collins

This John Collins alley-oop 😮 pic.twitter.com/wfGw6JukFY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2021

Ingram had Portis on the ground

BI SHOOK PORTIS 😳 pic.twitter.com/7TmIYIAwhg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PG Trae Young, ATL (W @WAS): 41 PTS (10-18 FG | 5-9 3PT), 5 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (L @NO): 38 PTS (15-27 FG | 2-7 3PT), 5 AST, 11 REB, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] SG James Harden, BKN (W @OKC): 25 PTS (9-14 FG | 3-6 3PT), 11 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] C Nikola Jokic, DEN (L @SAS): 35 PTS (14-24 FG | 5-11 3PT), 5 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] C Joel Embiid, PHI (W @MIN): 37 PTS (10-19 FG | 1-2 3PT), 3 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 0 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAYS

1. Tyrese Haliburton gives the Kings one of the best young backcourts in the NBA

Sacramento hasn’t had much fortune since HC Rick Adelman’s departure in 2006. If the Kings don’t make the playoffs this season, it’ll be the 15th consecutive year ending up in the lottery. Despite the plethora of premium draft picks, SAC hasn’t been able to turn that potential into production. After years of building a roster full of young talent, the Kings might finally be on the cusp of having a good core to work with.

It all starts with their youthful backcourt duo. Buddy Hield is currently the starting SG, but his name has been on the trade block ever since his benching last year, and it now seems inevitable with the rise of Tyrese Haliburton. The Iowa State Guard has accustomed himself well to the league, already averaging double-digit points and over five assists per game. He stepped up big on Friday night with a clutch 3PM in the final minute and a smooth hesi (as seen above).

Once Hield is likely traded for a Forward, Big, and/or draft pick, Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox will be able to start games together and showcase their two-way skills on a nightly basis. Fox has world-class athleticism that continues to go under the radar, while Haliburton’s efficient 3-point shot and facilitating abilities supplement’s Fox’s game perfectly. They form one of the best young backcourts whenever they’re on the floor together and they’re only going to get better as they become more familiar with each other’s game.

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