FULL NBA Review From April 16, 2021

Over half of Friday night’s slate of games were decided by less than 10 points. The only overtime game of the night was between New Orleans and Washington. DC outlasted NOLA thanks to a stellar performance from Russell Westbrook, who was one assist from another triple-double. A Norman Powell layup was the difference maker for Portland in their one-point victory over San Antonio, and Philadelphia halted the Clips win streak with a close one at home.

Julius Randle dropped 44 points in his hometown during a win over Dallas. Detroit, who was missing key players, overcame the setback in a home defeat of OKC. Utah stayed hot at home, despite losing star player Donovan Mitchell during the third quarter in a win over Indiana. Minnesota dominated the fourth quarter during a triumph victory over a Miami team who is struggling offensively.

Dillon Brooks had 32 points for Memphis in a game where they never lost a single quarter, ultimately resulting in a defeat over Chicago. Paul Watson shot 8-11 from deep for Toronto in their win over Orlando. In a pair of blowouts, Brooklyn took care of Charlotte and Denver cruised by Houston with a near triple-double performance from Nikola Jokic.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 16th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

New Orleans Pelicans (115) vs. Washington Wizards (117) [GW-FTs in OT]

[Highlights] @WIZARDS (+125) d. PELICANS (-145) 117-115 (GW-FTs in OT) [WSH +2.5 | u243]

[Highlights] BLAZERS (-130) d. @SPURS (+114) 107-106 [SAS +2.5 | u235.5]

[Highlights] @76ERS (-150) d. CLIPPERS (+130) 106-103 [PUSH -3 | u220.5]

[Highlights] @PISTONS (-147) d. THUNDER (+129) 110-104 [DET -3 | u216.5]

[Highlights] @JAZZ (-525) d. PACERS (+420) 119-111 [IND +10 | u233.5]

[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+211) d. HEAT (-250) 119-111 [MIN +6.5 | o221]

[Highlights] KNICKS (+211) d. @MAVERICKS (-248) 117-109 [NYK +6 | o211]

[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (-160) d. @BULLS (+142) 126-115 [MEM -3.5 | o220.5]

[Highlights] @RAPTORS (-140) d. MAGIC (+120) 113-102 [TOR -2.5 | o212]

[Highlights] @NETS (-850) d. HORNETS (+603) 130-115 [BKN -12 | o222.5]

[Highlights] NUGGETS (-363) d. @ROCKETS (+301) 128-99 [DEN -8.5 | o226.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

INTERESTING FACTS

The LA Clippers are the greatest 3-point shooting team ever

Los Angeles Clippers have the best 3P% (42.0) by a team in NBA history (min 20 3PA per game)
LA Clippers are the 1st team to record 10+ GP with 50+ 3P% & 30+ 3PA during 1 season in NBA history

The Process has been looking like The Answer lately

Joel Embiid is the 1st 76ers player with 35+ PTS in 3 straight GP since Allen Iverson in 2006

Toronto Raptors have had to rely on contributions from basically EVERYONE

Franchise-record 8 different players have scored 30+ PTS during 1 GP this season
Used the 2nd most unique starting lineups (26) this season in franchise history

Only Michael Jordan has done what Zion has done this early in a player’s career

Only MJ has scored more PTS (2,067) in a player’s 1st 74 career GP than Zion (1,880) over the last 50 years

Donovan Mitchell was going off before his ankle injury

2nd highest post All-Star break scoring average (29.6 PPG) by a Jazz player since Karl Malone (30.5) in 1990-91

David Robinson was the last Spurs player to do what Dejounte Murray has done this season

Murray became the 1st Spurs player with 3+ triple-doubles during 1 season since Robinson in 1993-94

Julius Randle is giving Knicks fans hope with his phenomenal performances

1st Knicks player with 40+ PTS/10+ REB/5+ AST during 1 GP since Bernard King in 1985
1st Knicks player with multiple GP of 40+ PTS in 1 season since Carmelo Anthony during 2013-14
1st Knicks player with consecutive GP of 30+ PTS/5+ REB/5+ AST since Carmelo in 2012

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Joker with the sick no-look dime

What a dish from Joker 🃏 pic.twitter.com/RXQvE8WbS8
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2021

LeVert showing off his handles package

LeVert taking it himself 👀 pic.twitter.com/zds00tNyUE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

Thunderbolt jam from Bazley

Darius Bazley elevated 😳 pic.twitter.com/K5XM8LD8wO
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

Kyrie‘s finishing package is 2nd to none

This finish by Kyrie 😲 pic.twitter.com/OLOlJ0BivE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2021

Full court bounce pass from the rook

Killian Hayes threw a DIME 👀 pic.twitter.com/ROYqBFmxtS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 17, 2021

Gafford making plays for DC vs. Zion

HUGE block by Daniel Gafford on Zion ❌#Crunchtime pic.twitter.com/GDVQQ8hApv
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2021

Daniel Gafford got UP 👀 pic.twitter.com/qozxx4v5CQ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 16, 2021

Melo beat the Q1 buzzer

Melo drains it at the 1Q buzzer 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TPjXJweVoU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PF Julius Randle, NY (W @DAL): 44 PTS (16-29 FG | 6-11 3PT), 7 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (W v.NO): 36 PTS (13-24 FG | 3-6 3PT), 9 AST, 15 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] C Nikola Jokic, DEN (W @HOU): 29 PTS (10-12 FG | 1-1 3PT), 7 AST, 16 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 0 TO

[Highlights] F Joel Embiid, PHI (W v.LAC): 36 PTS (10-20 FG | 0-3 3PT), 1 AST, 14 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] F Kevin Durant, BKN (W v.CHA): 25 PTS (8-12 FG | 3-5 3PT), 11 AST, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

JULIUS RANDLE IS GIVING NYK FANS HOPE AGAIN AS THE NEW FACE OF THE FRANCHISE

Julius Randle dominated Dallas with a 44-point performance to lead New York to a win inside his hometown’s arena, American Airlines Center in Dallas. Randle was selected to the All-Star Game and is the first Knicks player to receive this honor since Kristaps Porzingis in the 2017-18 season. He’s averaging 23.2 PPG this year for a New York team that is surprisingly still in the thick of the playoff race.

New York currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, which comes as a shock to the general public. The Knicks have been a laughing stock of the NBA for the past few years and nobody expected that to change this season. Julius Randle’s stellar season has caught the NBA by surprise and has restored faith with the fans that this team is headed in the right direction.

The star forward leads this young Knicks team in PPG, RPG, APG, and is second in PER behind Norvel Pelle, who has only featured in three games all year for the Knicks (so that data is skewed). Randle’s averaging a double-double and has put New York back in the playoff conversation for the first time since 2013. He’s elevated his game significantly during his two seasons since joining NY and has quickly become the new face of the franchise. With him and Tom Thibodeau leading the way, Knicks fans have hope in this organization again.

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