By Tyler Keller, Director of Basketball Personnel
Apr 12, 2021

 

Road teams had the upper hand on a Sunday night defined by destructive dunks in the NBA, with away squads winning seven of the ten contests. One of the road wins came from San Antonio behind a game-winner from DeMar DeRozan. Bogdan Bogdonovic had a career-high eight threes for Atlanta in their comeback win over Charlotte (but Bridges‘ dunk stole the show). A double-digit lead at half for MIN was enough for a victory over CHI on a night where the Wolves honored KAT’s mom with her own jersey and flowers in the stands.

Boston found themselves behind at the end of the third, but went on an amazing 31-3 run that propelled them to victory as they held Denver to only eight points in the entire fourth quarter, and eviscerated their win streak. Milwaukee had no issues without Giannis Antetokounmpo, as they blew out Orlando by 37 while New York was able to recover after blowing a double-digit lead to Toronto, and scraped out the win by six. 

Marcus Morris had a season-high 33 points that led the Clips to a home defeat of Detroit. A dominant fourth quarter brought New Orleans from behind over Cleveland with the help of 38 points from Zion Williamson. Miami held Portland to under 100, and secured a road victory thanks to an impressive defensive effort. A 45-point first quarter and 34 points from Caris LeVert was enough for Indiana to leave Memphis, TN with a win, despite 34 points and 22 rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 11th, 2021: 

GAME OF THE DAY

San Antonio Spurs (119) [GW-FG] vs. Dallas Mavericks (117)

[Highlights] SPURS (+205) d. @MAVERICKS (-241119-117 (GW-FG) [SAS +6 | o220.5]

[Highlights] HAWKS (+117) d. @HORNETS (-137105-101 [ATL +2.5 | u213.5]

[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+155) d. BULLS (-165121-117 [MIN +4 | o232]

[Highlights] @KNICKS (-168) d. RAPTORS (+150102-96 [NYK -3.5 | u216]

[Highlights] PACERS (+133) d. @GRIZZLIES (-151132-125 [IND +3 | o222]

[Highlights] @CLIPPERS (-849) d. PISTONS (+606131-124 [DET +12 | o215]

[Highlights] PELICANS (-345) d. @CAVALIERS (+285116-109 [CLE +8 | u225.5]

[Highlights] HEAT (-110) d. @BLAZERS (-110107-98 [MIA -1 | u222.5]

[Highlights] CELTICS (+138) d. @NUGGETS (-156105-87 [BOS +3.5 | u220]

[Highlights] BUCKS (-365) d. @MAGIC (+301124-87 [MIL -8.5 | u224.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

  • Zion has more GP (8) with 30+ PTS & 0 FGM outside the paint than the rest of the NBA combined this season
  • Highest 3P% among teams with 30+ 3PA/GP in NBA history: 1. 2021 Clips (42.1), 2. 2016 Warriors (41.6), 3. 2021 Bucks (39.3)
  • Jonas Valanciunas became the 2nd player with multiple GP of 30+ PTS & 20+ REB in Grizzlies history, joining Zebo
  • Bridges DUNK OF THE YEAR!

 

  • DeMar drains the GW to down Dallas

 

 

  • This PG poster was Rated R

 

 

  • KAT dominated Chicago for his Mom 

 

  • Jaxson sinks it from Lake Erie

[Highlights] C Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (W v.CHI): 27 PTS (8-15 FG | 3-7 3PT), 8 AST, 12 REB, 2 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] C Jonas Valanciunas, MEM (L v.IND): 34 PTS (16-25 FG | 0-0 3PT), 2 AST, 22 REB, 2 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] PF Zion Williamson, NO (W @CLE): 38 PTS (16-22 FG | 0-0 3PT), 4 AST, 9 REB, 2 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] G Malcolm Brogdon, IND (W @MEM): 29 PTS (10-21 FG | 5-9 3PT), 11 AST, 9 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 0 TO

[Highlights] F DeMar DeRozan, SA (W @DAL): 33 PTS (13-25 FG | 0-1 3PT), 8 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

IN AN ERA THAT REJECTS MID-RANGERS, DEROZAN HAS PERFECTED IT

DeMar DeRozan had 33 points for San Antonio in their win over Dallas on Sunday night. The final two of these 33 came on a last-second mid-range jumper to put his team up two and win the game. He was able to get to a spot on the floor that he feels comfortable and knock down the shot.

The spot on the floor where DeRozan shines is unlike most of the league. He is a mid-range expert and makes a living off these shots. As the years go on, fewer and fewer mid-range shots are being taken across the league, as players have been advised to expand their game beyond the three-point line. In fact, most players nowadays need a successful three-point jumper to even play in today’s NBA.

Although the league is moving away from the mid-range shot, DeRozan still makes a living off it. He is currently on a 5y/$139M contract that he earned by shooting the mid-ranger at a high clip. Having a player like him on the team brings a different look to the offense, and makes it more diverse with more ways to score effectively, which is why DeRozan continues to thrive, even in today’s NBA.

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