FULL NBA Review From April 23, 2021

Many of the league’s stars showed out on Friday night in the seven-game NBA slate. Ja Morant tallied 33 points, 13 assists, and ZERO turnovers, helping Memphis secure an impressive road win over Portland. Paul George continued his hot streak with his eighth straight 20+ point game during their win over Houston. Brooklyn survived a fourth quarter resurgence from Boston behind 38 points from Jayson Tatum, picking up the home victory by five as Kyrie almost racked up a triple-double.

Dunk king Miles Bridges led the way for Charlotte with 25 points in their victory of Cleveland. Atlanta held Miami to just 14 points in the fourth quarter in part of a dominant second half performance to get the win. Steph Curry got hot again with a team-high 32 points to lift Golden State over Denver and Russell Westbrook had yet another triple-double for Washington in their seventh straight win, leaving OKC with no chance.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 23rd, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Memphis Grizzlies (130) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (128)

[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (+143) d. @BLAZERS (-161) 130-128 [MEM +3.5 | o233]

[Highlights] @NETS (-203) d. CELTICS (+174) 109-104 [PUSH -5 | u226]

[Highlights] CLIPPERS (-538) d. @ROCKETS (+423) 109-104 [HOU +10 | u223.5]

[Highlights] @HORNETS (-115) d. CAVALIERS (-105) 108-102 [CHA -1 | u211]

[Highlights] @HAWKS (+185) d. HEAT (-220) 118-103 [ATL +5.5 | o212]

[Highlights] WIZARDS (-470) d. @THUNDER (+375) 129-109 [WSH -9.5 | o231.5]

[Highlights] @WARRIORS (+121) d. NUGGETS (-139) 118-97 [GSW +2.5 | u227]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

INTERESTING FACTS

Russell Westbrook’s on the greatest triple-double streak in NBA history

Most triple-doubles over a 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-game span ever

The Memphis Grizzlies have NEVER had a player like Ja Morant

More GP (4) w/ 30+ PTS & 10+ AST this season than any other MEM player has during their career (2) in team history

Draymond Green is one of the most unselfish players in the game

Recorded the most AST (19) by a player with 3 or fewer FGA in 1 GP since 1989
1st player with 10+ REB/15+ AST/2 or fewer PTS in 1 GP since Rajon Rondo in 2014

Miles Bridges is set to make Charlotte Hornets history

On pace to become the 1st Hornets player to average 50+ FG%/40+ 3P%/80+ FT% for a season in franchise history

Steph‘s insane scoring spree continued in the Bay

Has the most GP (11) of 30+ PTS in 1 calendar month by a Warriors player since Rick Barry in 1974

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Bruce Brown throws it down in Brooklyn

Bruce Brown threw it DOWN 😳 pic.twitter.com/kY8mbwIhvR
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 24, 2021

Mulder caught a body in the Bay

Mychal Mulder rocking the rim 💥 pic.twitter.com/v0YMH0TpxN
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 24, 2021

Kyrie’s finishes continue to amaze

Ridiculous Kyrie finish early on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ms53t1I2of
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (W @OKC): 37 PTS (14-23 FG | 3-4 3P), 11 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Ja Morant, MEM (W @POR): 33 PTS (11-17 FG | 1-3 3P), 13 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 0 TO

[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GSW (W v.DEN): 32 PTS (11-18 FG | 4-9 3P), 3 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] G/F Paul George, LAC (W @HOU): 33 PTS (10-27 FG | 3-10 3P), 4 AST, 14 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 7 TO

[Highlights] F Jayson Tatum, BOS (L @BKN): 38 PTS (14-27 FG | 6-12 3P), 4 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

RUSSELL WESTBROOK’S HISTORIC TRIPLE-DOUBLE STREAK HAS REVIVED DC’S SEASON

The Washington Wizards currently hoist the NBA’s second-longest win streak at seven games after their dominant win over OKC. This is largely thanks to the heroic efforts of Russell Westbrook. In his last 16 games, he has 14 triple-doubles, including 10 in the last 11. Additionally, Westbrook is already Washington’s all-time triple-double leader and hasn’t even played a full season with them.

Washington was on pace to be the league’s worst team at the beginning of the year, but are now 9-1 over their last 10 games and have their eyes set on the postseason. With the new rules in this unforeseen year, teams ranked within the top 10 of their conference have a shot at making the playoffs. Currently in the tenth spot, Washington would have to win two play-in games to secure a spot in the playoff field where they’d face the East’s No.1 team in a seven-game series.

The main reason they have this opportunity is due to this historic triple-double streak Westbrook is on. He has one in over half of the games he’s played in this year. The Brodie has needed to put together this unprecedented level of production to pull his team out of the trenches and back into playoff contention. With Washington and Westbrook playing the way they are now, they are poised to make noise in the play-in tournament and potentially go through the gauntlet.

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