NBA
FULL NBA Review From February 16, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Tuesday, February 16, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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A couple of clutch performances from two of the best players in the game stole the show on Tuesday. The primetime matchup featured the Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets that lost some appeal once both Kevin Durant (calf) and Kyrie Irving (back) were ruled out and it was initially looking like a 24-point blowout. However, the Beard rallied the troops and put the team on his back with the go-ahead 3PM with 30 seconds remaining that ultimately sealed the largest second-half comeback win in Nets franchise history.
Then in Oklahoma City, a familiar rival did what he does best. Dame Time showed up when Portland needed it the most after blowing their own double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Once they were trailing by five with under five minutes remaining, Lillard put on his cape and went off for 14 points in the final 4:10 to lift the Blazers to victory.
Toronto-Milwaukee had a game closer than the scoreboard would suggest in a 2019 ECF rematch that handed the Bucks their fourth straight loss for the first time since those Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron led the Lakers over the T-Wolves despite the best game from Anthony Edwards‘ young career, Jaylen & Jayson overcame Jokic’s dominant first half to get Boston back on track, and a Ja Morant vs. Zion Williamson showdown turned into an unexpected Tennessee ass-kicking.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from February 16th, 2021:
Brooklyn Nets (128) [GW-3PM] vs. Phoenix Suns (124)
[Highlights] NETS (+243; $9.57) d. @SUNS (-243; $13.37) 128-124 (GW-3PM) [BKN +8 | o226.5]
[Highlights] LAKERS (+239; $7.18) d. @TIMBERWOLVES (-239; $11.51) 112-104 [LAL -6 | u223]
[Highlights] RAPTORS (+213; $7.80) d. @BUCKS (-213; $9.50) 124-113 [TOR +6 | o236]
[Highlights] BLAZERS (-187; $11.47) d. @THUNDER (+187; $9.12) 115-104 [POR -5.5 | u226.5]
[Highlights] @CELTICS (-117; $8.22) d. NUGGETS (+117; $9.74) 112-99 [BOS -2 | u222.5]
[Highlights] PELICANS (-112; $8.87) d. @GRIZZLIES (+112; $11.80) 144-113 [NOP -1.5 | o232]
The Beard sealed the 24-point comeback 💥 pic.twitter.com/ZewhNcz2Wz
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 17, 2021
DAME TIME. pic.twitter.com/zM3wsUtC6a
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2021
Ja Morant threw down a monstrous dunk and even had Zion Williamson hyped 👀pic.twitter.com/MUI1nvP8fy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2021
Tatum dime to Jaylen Brown 😯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2021
This sequence was wild pic.twitter.com/t4dlnIUmcb
Caruso showing off the hustle ❌ pic.twitter.com/FCPLaxuljq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 17, 2021
Anthony Edwards hits a 3 over Bron 👀 @brhoops pic.twitter.com/0wqHX2qkYP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2021
CP3 FROM DISTANCE... he's got 17 PTS in the 4th! 😱@BrooklynNets 121@Suns 124
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2021
1:39 left on TNT pic.twitter.com/aXZYOF9bhl
[Highlights] SG James Harden, BKN (W @PHX): 38 PTS (14-22 FG | 5-11 3PT), 11 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 20 TO
[Highlights] C Nikola Jokic, DEN (L @BOS): 43 PTS (16-23 FG | 3-5 3PT), 5 AST, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PG Damian Lillard, POR (W @OKC): 31 PTS (12-25 FG | 5-14 3PT), 10 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PG LeBron James, LAL (W @MIN): 30 PTS (13-24 FG | 1-4 3PT), 7 AST, 13 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO
[Highlights] PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (L v.TOR): 34 PTS (11-20 FG | 2-4 3PT), 8 AST, 10 REB, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 5 TO
DAMIAN LILLARD IS THE MOST CLUTCH PLAYER IN THE NBA
Anybody that was watching the Portland Trail Blazers-Oklahoma City Thunder game on Tuesday night knew what was coming. Portland held a double-digit lead until the Thunder stormed back in the fourth quarter. Yet, what happened next has been seen TIME and TIME again. DAME TIME that is.
Damian Lillard only had 19 points at the time Portland was trailing by five points and needed a spark before he exploded for 12 points in the final 4:10 to carry the Blazers to victory and keep their now 5-game winning streak alive. OKC is very familiar with the legend of Lillard in the clutch as they were iconically eliminated after he drained a deeeeep game-winner in Game 5 of their playoff series and waved them goodbye.
Lillard was less animated this time around during a regular-season game against one of the worst teams in the league, but OKC quietly has one of the best defensive units in the NBA. Equipped with Lu Dort, Hamidou Diallo, George Hill, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have a plethora of defensively-gifted Guards but none could stop the inevitable.
Portland’s superstar has made a career of coming through in the clutch. Earlier this season, he memorably drained two huge 3PMs in the final seconds to beat Chicago including his third career buzzer beater, the most in Blazers franchise history. Just last game, he stepped up again when he buried the Mavs with a final-minute step-back Johnson.
He leads the NBA in an abundance of clutch stats, raising his FG% to an astounding 58.1% when the games matter most. There is not a player in the league that is more consistent or effective during the most important possessions of a game than Damian Lillard, and that’s what makes the Blazers as dangerous as any team in the league.
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