FULL NBA Review From April 29, 2021

The 10th spot in the West got a little more interesting on Thursday night. Golden State fell on the road in Minnesota despite 37 points from Steph Curry, and New Orleans topped the struggling OKC squad to close the gap to three games. Tim Hardaway Jr. balled out for Dallas and picked up the slack without Luka Doncic, as they pulled away late from Detroit to pick up the road win.

Houston pulled off the biggest upset of the day in a win over Milwaukee. Kevin Porter Jr. dropped a career-high 50 points along with 11 assists to boost the Rockets to victory. Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points for Denver in their win over Toronto, and has really stepped up in the absence of Jamal Murray. Kevin Durant had a season-high 42 points, including 22 in the third quarter for Brooklyn on their way to dominant win over Indiana.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from April 29th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Milwaukee Bucks (136) vs. Houston Rockets (143)

[Highlights] @ROCKETS (+658; $4.04) d. BUCKS (-1000; $9.45) 143-136 [HOU +12.5 | o234]

[Highlights] @NUGGETS (-145; $10.74) d. RAPTORS (+125; $6.84) 121-111 [DEN -3 | o220]

[Highlights] MAVERICKS (-368; $9.82) d. @PISTONS (+302; $9.84) 115-105 [DAL -8.5 | o214.5]

[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+147; $8.16) d. WARRIORS (-165; $8.54) 126-114 [MIN +3.5 | o234]

[Highlights] PELICANS (-431; $8.77) d. @THUNDER (+348; $7.22) 109-95 [NOP -9.5 | u230.5]

[Highlights] NETS (-360; $10.99) d. @PACERS (+297; $8.87) 130-113 [BKN -8.5 | o241.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

This month had the most blowouts of any month in NBA history

April 2021 has had the most 40+ PT victories (11) in a calendar month in NBA history

Kevin Porter Jr. showed his lofty potential with a 50-piece against one of the NBA’s best teams

Youngest (20 years, 11 days) player with 50+ PTS & 10+ AST in 1 GP, passing 2009 LeBron (23 years, 66 days)
2nd Rockets player with 50+ PTS & 10+ AST in 1 GP, joining James Harden (who did it 8x)
3 players (KPJ, Dame, & Jokic) have put up 50+ PTS & 10+ AST during 1 GP this season for the 1st time since 1961
4th youngest (20y, 360d) player to score 50+ PTS in 1 GP in NBA history, trailing B-Jax, LeBron, and D- Book

Steph Curry capped off a historic month with another big game

Recorded the only 2 calendar months with 35+ PPG/50+ FG%/45+ 3P% in NBA history (April 2021, February 2016)
Most GP (13) with 30+ PTS during 1 month by a players 33 or older, passing Kobe Bryant (12) from December 2012)

Kevin Durant had the best game of his Nets career, and one of the best games in Nets history

1st Nets player with 40+ PTS/10+ AST/65+ FG% during 1 GP in the 3-point era (1980)

Alize Johnson has become a great addition for Brooklyn

1st Nets player with 20+ PTS & 20+ REB off the bench during 1 GP since 1997

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

KAT caught another body vs. GS

KAT COMING THROUGH 😳 pic.twitter.com/HDFhduJSm4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 30, 2021

Jeff Green added another hammer

Jeff Green threw it DOWN 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZQGo7e6usK
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 30, 2021

Roby rose up above the rim

Isaiah Roby rocking the rim 💥 pic.twitter.com/hK3YQ3LhRZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 30, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] G Kevin Porter Jr., HOU (W v.MIL): 50 PTS (16-26 FG | 9-15 3P), 11 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] F Kevin Durant, BKN (W @IND): 42 PTS (16-24 FG | 2-4 3P), 10 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] SG Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL (W @DET): 42 PTS (13-23 FG | 6-10 3P), 3 AST, 1 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] G Jrue Holiday, MIL (L @HOU): 29 PTS (12-19 FG | 1-4 3P), 10 AST, 4 REB, 4 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] PG Stephen Curry, GSW (L @MIN): 37 PTS (11-27 FG | 6-17 3P), 8 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

KEVIN PORTER JR.’S DEVELOPMENT WILL DICTATE HOUSTON’S FUTURE OUTLOOK

The Houston Rockets are dead last in the league this year and have made it clear they are in full rebuild mode. They have recently parted ways with their head coach, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Victor Oladipo, among others. Houston came to the conclusion that these players would not make them championship contenders, and have the future in mind.

One of their key pieces moving forward is 20-year-old Kevin Porter Jr., who is coming off a career-high 50-point performance in a win over Milwaukee. KPJ actually played 15 games in the G-league this year and has only been featured 22 times this season for Houston. He got the call-up after dominating the G-league with 24.1 points per game.

Porter Jr. is the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point, 10-assist mark. Averaging 15.2 points per game this season for a poor Houston squad has proven that he can be a force in this league for some time to come. The USC product has showcased his potential as an offensive focal point, and Houston will want to keep him a part of their squad for as long as they can. KPJ will be an important building block for Houston as his continued development will dictate their future outlook.

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