By Rob Mason, PSO President of Sports Operations
Mar 01, 2021

 

An epic Sunday in the NBA capped off Black History month in about the best way possible as the Association featured three of the best games of the entire season. It started with a primetime matchup of Clippers vs. Bucks where the reigning 2x MVP played his best when it mattered most as he outscored LAC 17-10 by himself over the final 8:30 in a statement victory for the Greek Freak and a healthy Milwaukee squad that got Jrue Holiday back. 

Then Boston-Washington continued their rivalry of constant classics as Jayson Tatum refused to lose to his St. Louis foe despite Bradley Beal putting up 46 points. Tatum’s heroics and thunderous dunk led Boston’s comeback which set the tone for Charlotte later in the night. 

Needing five missed free throws in the clutch from the Kings, the Hornets got their wish and managed to pull off a miracle win in California’s capital despite missing three starters (Gordon Hayward, Devonte Graham, and Cody Zeller) after PJ Washington and Malik Monk came in the clutch. 

Miami-Atlanta was looking like another Game of the Day contender until the defending East champs pulled away with a 10-0 run to end the game in Jimmy Butler‘s absence. Anthony Davis is still out for the Lakers but that didn’t stop LeBron from leading LA’s demolition of Golden State. Devin Booker’s season-high 46 points led the Suns over Minnesota, the Knicks moved up to the No.4 seed in the East after beating Detroit, and Memphis absolutely murked Houston as the Rockets lost their 11th game in a row. 

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from February 28th, 2021:

GAME OF THE DAY

Washington Wizards (110) vs. Boston Celtics (111) [GW-FG]

[Highlights] @CELTICS (-226; $8.08) d. WIZARDS (+226; $10.09) 111-110 (GW-FG) [WSH +6.5 | u232.5]

[Highlights] @KINGS (+100; $9.58) d. HORNETS (+100; $14.26) 127-126 (GW-FT) [PUSH -1 | o238]

[Highlights] @BUCKS (+107; $9.34) d. CLIPPERS (-107; $10.53105-100 [MIL +1 | u233.5]

[Highlights] @HEAT (-151; $8.75) d. HAWKS (+151; $10.64109-99 [MIA -3.5 | u222.5]

[Highlights] KNICKS (+104; $15.29) d. @PISTONS (-104; $10.17) 109-90 [NYK +1 | u211]

[Highlights] SUNS (-449; $13.20) d. @TIMBERWOLVES (+449; $6.38118-99 [PHX -10.5 | u225]

[Highlights] @LAKERS (-138; $10.00) d. WARRIORS (+138; $9.31117-91 [LAL -3 | u219.5]

[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (-162; $10.67) d. @ROCKETS (+162; $6.35) 133-84 [MEM -4.5 | u223]

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  • Buddy Hield became the fastest player (350 GP) to reach 1,000 career 3PM in NBA History 
  • Fastest players to 1,000 3PM in NBA history: 1. Hield (350 GP), 2. Curry (369), 3. Thompson (372), 4. Lillard (385)
  • Jayson Tatum has the most go-ahead FGM (3) in the final 5 seconds this season
  • Grizzlies became the 1st team with multiple 30-pt losses AND multiple 30-pt wins in a single month since 1966
  • Memphis set a franchise record with 85 bench PTS vs. Houston
  • P.J. Washington is the youngest Hornets player with 40+ PTS in a game in franchise history
  • Giannis is the only player with 30+ PPG/12+ RPG/6+ APG during a month (min 5 GP) since the ABA-NBA merger
  • Devin Booker has the most GP (6) of 40+ PTS/5+ REB/5+ AST in Suns history over the last 40 years
  • Lamelo Ball already has the most GP (3) of 20 PTS & 10 AST by a rookie in Hornets franchise history
  • John Wall is the 1st starting player with 10+ PTS/0 REB/0 AST/0 STL/0 BLK/0 3PM on 25% FG or worse since 1985
  • Kings led by 8 PTS with 1 min left before proceeding to miss 5 straight free throws, as CHA went on a 12-3 run to win

Bradley Beal facts:

  • Of the 95 players with 10+ GP of 40+ PTS, Beal has the worst record (6-20; .231%) in those games in NBA history
  • Longest streak of losses (11) when scoring 40+ PTS in NBA history
  • On pace to join MJ as the only players with 33+ PPG & 48%+ FG during a season over the last 40 years
  • 1st NBA player with 40+ PTS in 3 straight GP at Boston since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971
  • Charlotte came up in clutch vs. Kings

 

  • Tatum refused to lose to DC

 

  • Greek Freak wants MVP #3

 

  • Kawhi’s vicious spin cycle

 

 

 

  • Terry throwing half-court dimes

 

  • King rings it in at the buzzer

 

  • Heat took over when it mattered

[Highlights] PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (W v.LAC): 36 PTS (15-27 FG | 2-7 3PT), 5 AST, 14 REB, 4 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] PF P.J. Washington, CHA (W @SAC): 42 PTS (15-23 FG | 5-8 3PT), 2 AST, 9 REB, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] SG Devin Booker, PHX (W @MIN): 43 PTS (15-26 FG | 1-6 3PT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] SG Bradley Beal, WAS (L @BOS): 46 PTS (16-29 FG | 3-6 3PT), 2 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] SF Jayson Tatum, BOS (W v.WAS): 31 PTS (12-22 FG | 3-10 3PT), 3 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 8 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MICHAEL JORDAN’S HORNETS HAVE BECOME THE BEST DRAFTING TEAM IN THE NBA

Michael Jordan‘s ownership tenure with the Hornets has been described as disappointing and underachieving. Once the most dominant player in basketball history, MJ’s post-playing days have been defined by losing in his home state of North Carolina. However, that all seems on the cusp of changing, and a big reason for that is the addition of GM Mitch Kupchak

After an unsuccessful ending to a legendary run in Los Angeles (5x NBA Champion), the Hornets were able to finally add a proven General Manager to make the basketball decisions and add more championship-DNA to the front office. While his big decisions in LA hadn’t turned the corner yet at the time, Kupchak actually ended his Lakers tenure on a tear.

In 2014, he selected PF Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick (who’s now the second-best player taken in that first round behind only Joel Embiid). Then in 2015, he drafted D’Angelo Russell second overall and stole Larry Nance Jr. with the 27th pick. And to cap it off, he picked Brandon Ingram at second overall in 2016 and then snagged Ivica Zubac during the second round. Five picks in his final three years… five hits. 

Kupchak then brought that same drafting expertise with him to Charlotte as he has turned the worst drafting franchise into the best, almost as if he has the Midas touch. He started in 2018 by taking Miles Bridges at 12th overall over the likes of Jerome RobinsonTroy Brown, and Zhaire Smith. While that’s a solid start, no selection in that draft was more impressive than Charlotte’s 34th overall pick of Devonte’ Graham, the only second-round pick that has averaged double-digit points per game. 

As an encore, Kupchak took PJ Washington 12th overall with Chuma OkekeSekou DoumboiuyaRomeo Langford, and Tyler Herro as the next player’s on the board. Washington’s 42 points are what helped lift Charlotte to a shocking win over Sacramento on Sunday night and he’s become a quality starting player already. Then, his most famous move came four months ago with the addition of LaMelo Ball to be the new face of the franchise after sign-and-trading Kemba Walker away the year prior for Terry Rozier

Rozier, Graham, Bridges, Washington, and Ball are all 26 years old or younger. Add in a 23-year-old Malik Monk who was inherited by Mitch, and the Hornets have one of the best young cores in the NBA and they’re currently just 1 GB of home-court advantage in the crowded Eastern Conference this season. 

As much credit as Mitch Kupchak deserves for turning this Hornets franchise around, Michael Jordan still has the final say on all personnel decisions and has certainly helped construct Charlotte’s promising young roster. The two of them have turned this organization around and deserve to be recognized as the current Kings of drafting in the NBA thanks to their recent three-year track record of success as the only team with FOUR starting-caliber players drafted over the last three years.  

COLORS KEY | FULL HORNETS FUTURE OUTLOOK 

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