FULL NBA Review From April 17, 2021

In Saturday night’s slate of six games, only one of the contests were decided by less than double digits. The single-digit game was between Golden State and Boston, where Jayson Tatum’s 44 points was enough to outlast the Warriors despite Steph Curry’s 47 points and 11 threes. In the only overtime game of the night, the LA Lakers dominated Utah during the extra period to secure the home victory without their two stars while Utah is adjusting to life without Donovan Mitchell.

Chicago was without Zach LaVine, but did enough to beat Cleveland at home and snap the team’s five-game losing streak. Grayson Allen went 7-10 from deep in an impressive outing for Memphis, who posted a 13-point win over Milwaukee. With a pair of 20+ point blowouts, Washington got yet another triple-double from Russell Westbrook in their win over Detroit, and San Antonio shockingly destroyed Phoenix, snapping their 10-game home winning streak.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 17th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Boston Celtics (119) vs. Golden State Warriors (114)

[Highlights] @CELTICS (-166) d. WARRIORS (+148) 119-114 [BOS -3.5 | o227.5]

[Highlights] @LAKERS (-112) d. JAZZ (-105) 127-115 (OT) [LAL -1 | o215]

[Highlights] @BULLS (-144) d. CAVALIERS (+126) 106-96 [CHI -2.5 | u212.5]

[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (+289) d. @BUCKS (-350) 128-115 [MEM +8 | o237.5]

[Highlights] @WIZARDS (-175) d. PISTONS (+156) 121-100 [WAS -4 | u226]

[Highlights] SPURS (+400) d. @SUNS (-504) 111-85 [SAS +9.5 | u227]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

INTERESTING FACTS

Despite a 1st ballot Hall of Fame career, this is the best stretch Steph Curry has ever been on

3 GP of 10+ 3PM just in the last week, while no other player has ever recorded 3 such GP over an entire season
Joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only 2 players with 10 consecutive GP of 30+ PTS in Warriors history
Tied Kobe Bryant for the most consecutive GP (10) with 30+ PTS after turning 33
4 career GP with 11+ 3PM & a Loss while all other players in NBA history have combined for 2 such GP
Most GP (7) with 40+ PTS of any player in the NBA this season
Joined Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant as the only players age 33+ with 4 GP of 40+ PTS during 1 calendar month

Add another triple-double record to Russell Westbrook’s long list

Now has the most seasons (4) with 25+ triple-doubles in NBA history

Jayson Tatum is quickly proving to be the greatest Celtics player since the legendary Larry Bird himself

Joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players with multiple GP of 40+ PTS & 10+ REB before turning 24

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Only Steph could somehow get this to fall

STEPH. IS. NOT. FAIR. 😱 pic.twitter.com/e30QF3aNHe
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 18, 2021

Westbrook only needs 1 hand

BRODIE 😤 pic.twitter.com/kJr0nIvIU9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2021

Kemba came in the clutch for the Celtics

KEMBA WITH THE DAGGER 🥶

Too clutch. pic.twitter.com/oSTq9ZEJqQ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 18, 2021

Utah–Lakers hit final buckets to force OT

Clarkson and Schroder trade CLUTCH buckets in the final seconds.. bonus basketball on ESPN❗️

End of regulation:@utahjazz 110@Lakers 110 pic.twitter.com/pOx5qNn7l2
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] F Jayson Tatum, BOS (W v.GS): 44 PTS (16-25 FG | 5-9 3PT), 3 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GS (L @BOS): 47 PTS (15-27 FG | 11-19 3PT), 3 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] SG Bradley Beal, WSH (W v.DET): 37 PTS (13-22 FG | 4-6 3PT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (W v.DET): 15 PTS (7-17 FG | 0-0 3PT), 11 AST, 14 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (L v.MEM): 28 PTS (10-18 FG | 0-3 3PT), 8 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

HOW UTAH OVERCOMES THIS ADVERSITY IS A TRUE TEST OF THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP CHANCES

The Utah Jazz currently hold the best record in the NBA, sitting at first place in the tougher Western Conference. Unfortunately, Utah lost their best player Donovan Mitchell to an ankle injury on Friday night against Indiana and will now miss several games. For the first time this season, the Jazz will now be faced with a major blow due to injury, and will be faced with adversity like many of the other Western Contenders have seen.

A large part of Utah’s success comes from the fact that they’ve had minimal injury problems all year long. With Mitchell out for at least several games, the Jazz will have to perform at their best to keep their impressive record. This time period without Mitchell will be a true test to how great Utah really is, and will challenge players like Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdonavic, and Jordan Clarkson to step up.

The LA Clippers have played multiple games without Kawhi Leonard and/or Paul George, the LA Lakers have gone without players Lebron James and Anthony Davis, Denver is now missing Jamal Murray, and Portland has been without CJ McCollum for a while this season. Utah now joins the list of Western contenders with injury problems, and will have to showcase why they deserve the best record in the NBA.

COLORS KEY | FULL JAZZ OUTLOOK