NBA
FULL NBA Review From March 16, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Tuesday, March 16, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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Dame Time showed up once again on Tuesday, and this might’ve been the most impressive performance of his MVP-caliber 2020-21 season yet. With CJ McCollum easing back into things during his return, the Blazers had about a 1% chance of winning against the Pelicans when they were down by 17 with five minutes left. However, Lillard put his cape on and carried the Blazers down the stretch with 20 points in the final quarter and a memorable victory that was capped off with his game-winning free throws (50 points fueled by a perfect 18-18 from the line).
Philly and the Knicks also came down to the wire with the Embiid-less 76ers pulling out the victory after the Knicks failed to convert multiple potential game-tying attempts in the final minute. The Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics entered their game with the most intriguing matchup of the evening and looked to be heading to a close finish until Utah pulled away in the second half.
The Hawks 5-game winning streak and Rockets 16-game losing streak were both extended despite Kenyon Martin Jr. doing his best to give Houston a victory. Christian Wood’s imminent return will be huge for HOU to get their first win since his absence began 17 games ago. Miami’s hot streak continued as well while the Lakers handled the T-Wolves with some showtime highlights, and Zach LaVine’s 40 points led the Bulls past the Thunder.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 16th, 2021:
Portland Trail Blazers (125) [GW-FTs] vs. New Orleans Pelicans (124)
[Highlights] @BLAZERS (-125; $10.27) d. PELICANS (+105; $8.80) 125-124 (GW-FTs) [NOP +2 | o239]
[Highlights] @76ERS (-275; $11.14) d. KNICKS (+231; $15.57) 99-96 [NYK +7 | u219]
[Highlights] JAZZ (-170; $13.12) d. @CELTICS (+150; $8.55) 117-109 [UTA -4 | u228.5]
[Highlights] HAWKS (-442; $11.99) d. @ROCKETS (+356; $5.06 119-107 [ATL -8.5 | o225.5]
[Highlights] @HEAT (-581; $9.09) d. CAVALIERS (+448; $10.75) 113-98 [MIA -10.5 | o206.5]
[Highlights] @LAKERS (-393; $9.83) d. TIMBERWOLVES (+330; $6.87) 137-121 [LAL -7.5 | o223.5]
[Highlights] @BULLS (-225; $11.08) d. THUNDER (+192; $9.46) 123-102 [CHI -7 | u227.5]
Damian Lillard facts:
ALL-ANGLES of Lauri Markkanen's FEROCIOUS JAM! 😤 pic.twitter.com/m5zIgk6QjY
— NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2021
Kenyon Martin Jr. POSTER 😱 pic.twitter.com/JZLPO5kezP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 17, 2021
The King can hang.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 17, 2021
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/kd3bJuqdIa
LEBRON CHASEDOWN. (via @espnnba) pic.twitter.com/B4tiKssT06
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 17, 2021
Bron dropping full-court dimes 👑 pic.twitter.com/kWk7Pi2ykw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 17, 2021
This pass from THT 😳 pic.twitter.com/0vnTInBhnS
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 17, 2021
Get that weak stuff outta here!! - @_bigjayy_
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 17, 2021
🎥: Betway's Best Play of #CavsHeat pic.twitter.com/enVsli6u22
Jarrett Allen met ‘em at the rim ❌ pic.twitter.com/UBTa3x18Yv
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 17, 2021
DWIGHT DENIED RANDLE 😤 pic.twitter.com/8NVuze7MrV
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 17, 2021
YES to this whoooole sequence #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RmWkeoRRp6
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2021
[Highlights] PG Damian Lillard, POR (W v.NO): 50 PTS (13-20 FG | 6-13 3PT), 10 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO
[Highlights] SF LeBron James, LAL (W v.MIN): 25 PTS (8-14 FG | 4-7 3PT), 12 AST, 12 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO
[Highlights] G/F Zach LaVine, CHI (W v.OKC): 40 PTS (15-20 FG | 7-12 3PT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] SF Jimmy Butler, MIA (W v.CLE): 28 PTS (11-16 FG | 0-1 3PT), 4 AST, 12 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PF Zion Williamson, NO (L @POR): 28 PTS (11-17 FG | 0-0 3PT), 8 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO
JIMMY BUTLER IS EMERGING AS A LEGITIMATE MVP CANDIDATE
The Miami Heat’s 113-98 victory on Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers marked their fifth win in a row and their ninth in their last ten games. This winning spree has them sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, poised for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The recent success of the Heat is largely due to the return of their star player Jimmy Butler.
The Heat’s success is making a strong case for Butler to elevate into an MVP candidate and a serious one at that. Butler’s supporting cast is full of younger, inexperienced players like Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn. Butler is clearly a great leader and mentor for these young players, as he led them to the Finals last year, and has them in a great position again this year, set for another deep playoff run.
Butler is averaging 21.4 PPG, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while shooting an efficient 46.7% from the field. He does a great job on the defensive end as well, averaging 2.2 steals per game with some timely turnovers throughout the season. He also has a player efficiency rating of 27.2, right behind Damian Lillard for the fifth-highest this year. These display his impressive, well-rounded, and consistent production, and he also has something that can’t be found on a stat sheet.
This would be his hard work and hustle he puts into every possession, both offensively and defensively. There aren’t many guys who play with more heart than Butler does night in and night out. These numbers, along with leading an inexperienced team to one of the East’s top spots shows why Butler has entered himself into the MVP race, and his stock will only rise as the Miami Heat continue to rattle off victories down the stretch.
COLORS KEY | FULL HEAT OUTLOOK
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