FULL NBA Review From February 17, 2021

Wednesday in the NBA was one of the best basketball days of the year so far with numerous clutch shots, monster performances, and exciting matchups. Steph Curry cooked up the dagger in OT vs. Miami to lead the Warriors to victory, Malcolm Brogdon put the Wolves away with his 3-pointer during OT, and the Bulls rookie top-5 pick stepped up with a clutch shot in the final 30 seconds himself.

Dame time is on a roll with a third straight clutch performance to cap off a 30-pt/10-ast game as the Blazers are boasting a six-game winning streak. Of course, that doesn’t compare to the Jazz right now who are 20-1 since starting the season 4-4 after taking care of Kawhi‘s Clippers.

The wildest game of the night would have to go to Washington-Denver after a climactic ending that featured two CLUTCH 3PM from Jamal Murray including a game-tying 30-footer from the logo to tie it up with two seconds left until Bradley Beal drew the foul for game-winning free throws.

Ben Simmons‘ absence a game after setting a career-high didn’t stop the 76ers from taking care of Houston, Trae Young exploded for 40 points during a victory in Boston, Ja Morant’s crosses on Lu Dort highlighted Memphis’ win over OKC, and Terrence Ross‘ big night led Orlando’s blowout victory vs. New York.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from February 17th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Miami Heat (112) vs. Golden State Warriors (120)

[Highlights] @WARRIORS (-104; $8.66) d. HEAT (+104; $6.79) 120-112 (OT) [GSW -1.5 | o222.5]

[Highlights] @WIZARDS (+149; $7.86) d. NUGGETS (-149; $9.51) 130-128 (GW-FT) [WAS +4.5 | o235]

[Highlights] BLAZERS (+158; $11.78) d. @PELICANS (-158; $9.35) 126-124 (GW-FG) [POR +4 | o237]

[Highlights] @BULLS (-133; $10.65) d. PISTONS (+133; $9.80) 105-102 [CHI -3 | u220]

[Highlights] @76ERS (-457; $10.54) d. ROCKETS (+457; $7.46) 118-113 [HOU +8.5 | o227]

[Highlights] PACERS (-184; $9.14) d. @T-WOLVES (+184; $7.01) 134-128 (OT) [IND -5.5 | o225.5]

[Highlights] HAWKS (+120; $9.58) d. @CELTICS (-120; $8.51) 122-114 [ATL +2 | o222.5]

[Highlights] @GRIZZLIES (-242; $11.12) d. THUNDER (+242; $8.82) 122-113 [MEM -7 | o227]

[Highlights] JAZZ (-148; $13.99) d. @CLIPPERS (+148; $11.19) 114-96 [UTA -7 | u228]

[Highlights] @MAGIC (+157; $8.07) d. KNICKS (-157; $16.06) 107-89 [ORL +3.5 | u209.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

Dame has the most game-tying or go-ahead FGM (25) within the final 20 sec of 4th Qtr/OT since entering NBA in 2012
Lillard is the 1st Blazer with 40+ PTS & 15+ AST since Clyde Drexler in 1986
Domantas Sabonis now has the most career triple-doubles (7) in Pacers history.
Sabonis had the 1st GP with 30+ PTS/15+ REB/10+ AST in Pacers history
Jimmy Butler is the 1st Miami Heat player with a triple-double in back-to-back GP
Butler passed Dwyane Wade for the 2nd most triple-doubles (6) in franchise history
Davis Bertans is the 1st player with 9+ 3PM off the bench without a 2PA in NBA history
Russell Westbrook already has the 2nd most career triple-doubles (7) in Wizards history in just his 19th GP
LaVine could join Steph & Bird (3x) with 28+ PPG/5+ RPG/5+ APG/50% FG/40% 3P/80% FT in a season in NBA history
Zion Williamson is the 2nd player to score 20+ paint PTS in 5 straight GP over last 25 seasons, joining Shaq
Rudy Gobert has the 2nd most career Jazz GP (4) of 20+ PTS/20+ REB in the 3pt-era, trailing only Karl Malone
Joel Embiid is the 3rd player with 12 straight GP of 25+ PTS in 76ers history, joining Allen Iverson & Wilt Chamberlain
Jerami Grant is the 1st Pistons player with 40+ PTS & 60%+ FG since 2010

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Nuggets-Wizards was a wild one

JAMAL MURRAY CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/sSQ07iv8eV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 18, 2021

👌 2 huge threes from Murray.
❄️ 2 clutch free-throws from Beal.

WILD ending to WAS/DEN, as the @WashWizards complete the 20-point comeback! pic.twitter.com/3IlKfo8B9X
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2021

Chef Curry cooked up OT dagger

STEPH. CURRY. CALLED. GAME. pic.twitter.com/fxscdb70dk
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 18, 2021

And-1 in Dame Time

DAME FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/aylBn6gFKw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 18, 2021

Brogdon puts Wolves away

BROGDON. DAGGER. #Crunchtime pic.twitter.com/ORS6Obg7y1
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 18, 2021

Rookie dagger in Chi-Town

Patrick Williams coming up CLUTCH! 👀#Crunchtime pic.twitter.com/g6ksIIxN7X
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 18, 2021

Ja dropped Dort 2x

Ja crossed Dort TWICE pic.twitter.com/KyzMkRLe4B
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 18, 2021

Edwards elevated to the rim

Anthony Edwards showing off the bounce! 🐰 pic.twitter.com/CEnrAQ5sA4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 18, 2021

Porter Jr. playing physical

Weight room.

MPJ 😤💪 pic.twitter.com/qGEfDaNVGY
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 18, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PG Damian Lillard, POR (W @NO): 43 PTS (14-28 FG | 7-16 3PT), 16 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] PF Domantas Sabonis, IND (W @MIN): 36 PTS (13-21 | 1-2 3PT), 10 AST, 17 REB, 1 BLK, 3 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Trae Young, ATL (W @BOS): 40 PTS (14-20 FG | 4-9 3PT), 8 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 8 TO

[Highights] PG Jamal Murray, DEN (L @WAS): 35 PTS (13-25 FG | 5-10 3PT), 6 AST, 9 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] G/F Zach LaVine, CHI (W v.DET): 37 PTS (14-22 FG | 4-6 3PT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 5 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

WIZARDS ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE EAST PLAYOFF RACE

When the Wizards were decimated by COVID and off to the worst record in the NBA, many people counted DC out due to their dismal defense. However, the Wiz are 6-5 over their last 11 games, starting with the near 300-point thriller over Brooklyn. The nation’s capital is playing their best basketball in a while with their first three-game winning streak in over 150 games. They have struggled stringing wins together, but now they boast a victory over Denver, Boston, Miami, and Brooklyn over their last 11 outings.

The Bradley Beal-led squad now sits only three games back from a playoff spot in the East and just two games away from a 10th seed play-in game opportunity. They’ve played the least games in the East so far (9-17) but benefit from a conference that has an 8th seed boasting an impressive 13-15 record.

Despite Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic‘s best efforts to cool down the heating up Wizards, Scott Brooks’ squad is making the right plays when it matters to win games and finally saw Davis Bertans break out of his slump with a career-high 35 points on an efficient 9-11 FG/3PM night. Russell Westbrook chipped in with his seventh triple-double (2nd most in Wizards history) while Rui Hachimura, Alex Len, and Raul Neto were also in double-digits with Neto not missing a single shot (5-5 FG).

This could all end up just being a flash in the pan, but the Wizards have the talent to compete in a weak East with two All-Stars in the backcourt, a rising star in Rui, an elite shooting 6th man, and an offense that’s among the best in the league. If their recent run sparks a buying approach at the trade deadline and WAS can add a premier defender like Myles Turner to their roster, this team could really have a chance to turn a horrendous season into one full of growth, development, and optimism.

COLORS KEY | FULL WIZARDS FUTURE OUTLOOK