FULL NBA Review From April 15, 2021

Thursday night featured a small slate of only four games and all four games were decided by eight or more points without much late-game intensity. Jaylen Brown put up 40 for the C’s in their defeat of historic rivals LA Lakers. Phoenix put together a solid performance over Sacramento on their way to their 10th straight home win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return for Milwaukee in a triumph over the hot Atlanta Hawks, and Golden State put together a second double-digit victory in a row in their defeat of Cleveland. LaMarcus Aldridge also surprisingly announced his retirement earlier in the day after suffering from an irregular heartbeat that forced a hospital visit last week. PSO wishes Aldridge all the best in the next chapter of his life after a legendary 15-year NBA career.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 15th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Boston Celtics (121) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (113)

[Highlights] CELTICS (-238) d. @LAKERS (+205) 121-113 [BOS -6 | o213]

[Highlights] @SUNS (-857) d. KINGS (+622) 122-114 [SAC +12.5 | o234]

[Highlights] BUCKS (-165) d. @HAWKS (+150) 120-109 [MIL -4 | u229]

[Highlights] WARRIORS (-263) d. @CAVALIERS (+230) 119-101 [GSW -6.5 | u224]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

INTERESTING FACTS

Jaylen Brown had a historic game for Boston

1st Celtics player with 40+ PTS & 85+ FG% during 1 GP in franchise history
1st player with 40+ PTS & 85+ FG% on the road against the defending champions in NBA history
Highest FG% (88.2) w/ 15+ FGA by a Celtics player ever

Steph continues to shatter records during this remarkable run of dominance

2nd most 3PM (21) in a 2-GP span and and 2nd most (39) in a 5-GP span
Most 3PM (29) in a 3-GP span andin a 4-GP (34) span, in NBA history during his recent stretch
Most consecutive GP with 30+ PTS by players 33 or older in NBA history: 1. Kobe (10), Curry (9), T3. MJ (7), T3. MJ (7)
Tied Rick Barry for the t-2nd most consecutive GP (9) of 30+ PTS in Warriors history, trailing only Wilt (65)

LaMarcus Aldridge retires as one of the greatest Blazers ever

Most PTS in Blazers history: 1. Clyde Drexler (18,040), 2. Damian Lillard (16,379), 3. Aldridge (12,562)

Minnesota has never had a young scoring machine like Anthony Edwards

Became the youngest (19 years, 253 days) player in Wolves history & 5th youngest in NBA history to reach 1,000 PTS

Longest streak of GP (24) with 1+ STL by a rookie since Chris Paul in 2005-06

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

What a block from Metu

✈️ @Chimezie_Metu taking flight for this snag

An absolute jaw (and pants) dropping block 🚫https://t.co/pQs0feZQOm
— Barstool USC (@BarstoolSC) April 16, 2021

Draymond dunked on the Cavs

Draymond attacking the rim 💥 pic.twitter.com/P6zaqsfSGP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

Steph shook Delly like it was 2015

Steph dropped ‘em 😳 pic.twitter.com/8NHGPoaXI7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

JT drops dime behind the back

Tatum with the behind-the-back dime 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6VR17HGH45
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] F/G Jaylen Brown, BOS (W @LAL): 40 PTS (17-20 FG | 3-5 3PT), 3 AST, 9 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 6 TO

[Highlights] C Deandre Ayton, PHX (W v.SAC): 26 PTS (10-11 FG | 0-0 3PT), 0 AST, 11 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GS (W @CLE): 33 PTS (12-25 FG | 4-13 3PT), 5 AST, 4 REB, 2 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] F Juan Toscano-Anderson, GS (W @CLE): 20 PTS (8-9 FG | 3-4 3PT), 3 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] G/F Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (W v.MIL): 28 PTS (10-20 FG | 6-12 3PT), 7 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 0 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

THE YOUNG JAYS ARE PRIMED TO BECOME BOSTON’S BEST DUO EVER

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been showing everyone all season long that they are a duo to be taken seriously. Brown is fresh off a 40-point game against the Lakers and both are averaging career-highs in points and field goal percentages this season. Combined, the duo is averaging over 50 PPG this season alone, with 24.3 from Brown and 25.9 from Tatum.

This duo in Boston are both under 25 years of age and are getting better with each season. With this stellar production so early in their careers, they have the potential to become the best duo ever in Celtics history. When it comes to the era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, only Pierce had a season for the Celtics with more PPG than the young stars do now, and that was before he had a teammate worthy of such consideration.

They’ve shown they can catch up to Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Brown and Tatum have both received All-Star bids already, and are primed to obtain many more throughout their careers. McHale never averaged more than 26.1 PPG and only above 23 once. Brown and Tatum are already combining for 50.2 PPG with 5-10 more years of elite production ahead of them. Championships will be key to be considered the greatest duo, but they’re already making their case as the best scoring duo in Celtics history.

COLORS KEY | FULL CELTICS OUTLOOK