FULL NBA Review From April 20, 2021

There was a small slate of only five games on Tuesday night, and road teams came out on top in three of them. LAC escaped with a 1-point victory over Portland behind 33 points and game-winning free throws from Paul George. Kyrie Irving, without KD and Harden, led Brooklyn past New Orleans. New York won their seventh in a row over Charlotte, and both Atlanta and Minnesota pulled away from their opponents (Orlando and Sacramento, respectively) during the fourth quarter.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 20th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Los Angeles Clippers (113) [GW-FT] vs. Portland Trail Blazers (112)

[Highlights] CLIPPERS (-209) d. @BLAZERS (+180) 113-112 (GW-FT) [POR +4.5 | o222]

[Highlights] NETS (+130) d. @PELICANS (-150) 134-129 [BKN +3 | o235.5]

[Highlights] @KNICKS (-222) d. HORNETS (+190) 109-97 [NYK -5.5 | u208]

[Highlights] TIMBERWOLVES (+140) d. @KINGS (-160) 134-120 [MIN +3 | o239]

[Highlights] @HAWKS (-870) d. MAGIC (+617) 112-96 [ATL -12.5 | u218]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

INTERESTING FACTS

Karl Anthony Towns is already the most consistent 3-point shooter in Wolves history

Most GP (36) with 4+ 3PM in Timberwolves franchise history

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Jeff Green is still throwing down hammers

Jeff Green comin' through 😤 pic.twitter.com/hbCcD0Qtli
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 21, 2021

Kyrie came in clutch with the daggers

Kyrie is TOO CLUTCH.🔥 pic.twitter.com/r0AcWCNETd
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) April 21, 2021

Kyrie coming up clutch vs. the Pels 😤 pic.twitter.com/h6S9RUJKu3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 21, 2021

Edwards elevated to the rim for MIN

Anthony Edwards took flight ✈️ pic.twitter.com/pJC3999EHa
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 21, 2021

Carmelo got himself a cup

VINTAGE CARMELO. pic.twitter.com/ZRKdoyCylD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 21, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] C Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (W @SAC): 26 PTS (9-17 FG | 4-9 3P), 5 AST, 18 REB, 4 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO [Player of the Day]

[Highlights] G/F Paul George, LAC (W @POR): 33 PTS (13-22 FG | 2-8 3P), 3 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Kyrie Irving, BKN (W @NO): 32 PTS (12-19 FG | 3-7 3P), 8 AST, 2 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] G D’Angelo Russell, MIN (W @SAC): 28 PTS (10-13 FG | 6-8 3P), 6 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] PF Zion Williamson, NO (L v.BKN): 33 PTS (14-19 FG | 0-0 3P), 4 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

MINNESOTA’S FUTURE IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT WITH THE NBA’S BEST YOUNG TRIO

Minnesota finally got big performances from all three of their young studs during a win on the road over Sacramento. Their young trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell all tallied at least 26 points while KAT also had a season-high in rebounds with 18. The Timberwolves’ future is looking bright, as all of these players are aged 25 or younger.

Between the three of them, KAT, D-Lo, and Edwards are averaging 61.8 combined PPG this season, which is roughly 56% of the team’s scoring throughout the year. Russell has already proven he has All-Star potential, getting the nod in 2019. He’s averaged an underrated 17.6 points per game throughout his career, and is waiting to find a permanent home, having bounced around the league, playing on four different teams throughout his seven NBA seasons.

Edwards has shown that he will be a force in this league for a long time to come, and is this season’s odds-on favorite to win the rookie of the year award unless LaMelo lights it up upon his return. KAT won this award in 2015-16, and has received two All-Star bids as well. The 25-year olds (KAT and D-Lo) have shown they can be amongst the best in the league, and the rookie (Edwards), is on his way there too. This recipe makes for the NBA’s best young trio, giving Minnesota an extremely hopeful future ahead of them.

Throw in the fact that this team could add a prominent prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft, and that could give Minnesota enough firepower to quickly emerge as a Western Conference contender. The T-Wolves only keep their pick if it falls within the top-3 or it heads to Golden State in the D-Lo trade. Malik Beasley also has averaged 20+ PPG during his time with the Wolves and gives them another championship-caliber contributor. There has never been a winning kind of culture in the Twin Cities, but with this young trio intact, it looks like Alex Rodriguez picked the perfect time to invest in this franchise that has a very bright future.

COLORS KEY | FULL TIMBERWOLVES OUTLOOK