NBA
FULL NBA Review From April 2, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Friday, April 2, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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In a slate of ten NBA games on Friday night, only one game was decided by less than double digits. It was an evening full of blow outs, which prevented any exciting finishes. The only game decided by single digits was Utah’s victory over Chicago, which marked their 21st home win in a row. On the other side of the spectrum, Golden State lost by a whopping 53 points on the road in Toronto. They didn’t have Steph or Draymond, but it doesn’t seem like that would’ve mattered. This was the largest margin of victory in the NBA this season.
Memphis showed that they can get production from many places, as they had eight scorers in double-figures during a win over MIN. Rob Williams never missed a shot for Boston, and almost tallied a triple-double in their defeat of Houston. Giannis had 47 points, which caused Portland’s four-game win streak to snap. Kyle Kuzma shined in Cali with a season-high of 30 during a win over Sacramento.
Dallas was able to put together a solid fourth quarter to pull away from New York in a lower-scoring affair. The short-handed Charlotte squad dominated a struggling Indiana team on the road. New Orleans, after starting the game well, failed to score more than 25 points in all of their last three quarters, resulting in a home loss to Atlanta, and Phoenix showed why they deserve to be talked amongst the league’s best, obliterating OKC by 37.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 2nd, 2021:
Utah Jazz (113) vs. Chicago Bulls (106)
[Highlights] @JAZZ (-973; $13.29) d. BULLS (+667; $11.02) 113-106 [CHI +12.5 | u223.5]
[Highlights] @GRIZZLIES (-245; $11.23) d. TIMBERWOLVES (+208; $6.81) 120-108 [MEM -6 | u232.5]
[Highlights] MAVERICKS (-224; $9.74) d. @KNICKS (+190; $15.43) 99-86 [DAL -6 | u211.5]
[Highlights] @CELTICS (-748; $8.12) d. ROCKETS (+549; $4.79) 118-102 [BOS -11.5 | u223]
[Highlights] HORNETS (+190; $15.38) d. @PACERS (-223; $8.66) 114-97 [CHA +5.5 | u219.5]
[Highlights] BUCKS (-146; $9.71) d. @BLAZERS (+128; $10.40) 127-109 [MIL -3 | u240]
[Highlights] LAKERS (+159; $10.15) d. @KINGS (-180; $9.77) 115-94 [LAL +4.5 | u220.5]
[Highlights] HAWKS (+102; $12.18) d. @PELICANS (-120; $8.69) 126-103 [ATL +1.5 | o212]
[Highlights] @SUNS (-1100; $13.87) d. THUNDER (+719; $9.25) 140-103 [PHX -13.5 | o220.5]
[Highlights] @RAPTORS (-220; $7.62) d. WARRIORS (+184; $8.74) 130-77 [TOR -5.5 | u219]
JAXSON HAYES 😳 pic.twitter.com/IvxzkxK6DM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 3, 2021
OH MY JAYLEN BROWN 🤧 pic.twitter.com/BBt7w95zCR
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 3, 2021
CARUSO GOT UP 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/AVvts62eOL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 3, 2021
OBI TOPPIN PUTBACK 😤 pic.twitter.com/hoAmKIFm00
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 3, 2021
Rise up, Julius Randle 💥 pic.twitter.com/59dgjj4gxl
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 3, 2021
Luka from deep 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OjygBPPqod
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 3, 2021
KPJ got that MEAN euro. (via @HoustonRockets) https://t.co/HL7rgkfgVl
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 3, 2021
Nurkic with the big slam 😳https://t.co/HnTrVPJQIY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 3, 2021
[Highlights] F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (W @POR): 47 PTS (18-21 FG | 0-3 3PT), 2 AST, 12 REB, 3 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
[Highlights] PF Pascal Siakam, TOR (W v.GS): 36 PTS (14-24 FG | 4-9 3PT), 5 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 0 TO
[Highlights] C Robert Williams III, BOS (W v.HOU): 20 PTS (9-9 FG | 0-0 3PT), 8 AST, 9 REB, 2 BLK, 1 STL, 0 TO
[Highlights] PG Chris Paul, PHX (W v.OKC): 17 PTS (8-8 FG | 1-1 3PT), 12 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] G Jrue Holiday, MIL (W @POR): 22 PTS (9-14 FG | 2-6 3PT), 10 AST, 4 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
ROBERT WILLIAMS III IS SHINING AS THE STARTING CENTER IN BOSTON
Robert Williams III has developed into a very effective and efficient performer for Boston this season. For the majority of the season, BOS started Daniel Theis at the Center spot, and Williams was getting solid backup minutes. Since Theis went to Chicago, Williams has emerged as the starter in his place, at least while Tristan Thompson remains out. TT might not get the starting job even upon his return since the “Time Lord” has done a great job, and is really coming into his own as potential core player for the Celtics.
During Friday’s outing against Houston, Williams posted an impressive stat line of 20 points, his career-high, nine rebounds, and eight assists, which was also a career-high. He was one rebound and two assists shy from a triple-double. Not only was he effective in almost all aspects of the game, he also shot a perfect 9-9 from the field, showing how efficient of a player he can be in this offense catching lobs, getting put-backs, and being a menace down in the paint.
To trade away Theis, the Celtics must’ve had faith in Williams’ ability to step up, not just in the future, but right now. That assumption is proving to be a good one so far, as he has demonstrated that he can be a valuable contributor to a contending Celtics team with high-quality play on both sides of the ball.
At just 23 years old, he gives this already promising young core another piece that can help get them over the top in the coming years once they all reach their peak. If he continues to develop, there is no reason to believe he can’t be this team’s starting Center for the foreseeable future.
COLORS KEY | FULL CELTICS OUTLOOK
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