NBA
FULL NBA Review From March 22, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Monday, March 22, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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Riding an eight-game win streak, the Atlanta Hawks were dominating the Clippers by 22 points and were primed to make it nine straight since firing Lloyd Pierce and adding Nate McMillan. However, Luke Kennard’s perfect night from the field (8-8 FG) sparked the Clippers comeback as they ended Atlanta’s win streak in style, this time on the right side of a blown second half lead.
The Hornets had their first test without rookie sensation LaMelo Ball, and they scraped out a win against the Spurs that came down to the wire. An even closer game on the night was the matchup between Memphis and Boston where Ja Morant led them to an overtime victory despite 27 points from the greatly improved Jaylen Brown, trying to hold it down without Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker.
The Rockets finally ended their 20-game losing streak with a victory against Toronto, who now have a nine-game losing streak of their own. Sacramento beat Cleveland behind 30 from De’Aaron Fox, the Jazz blew out the Bulls by 25, and OKC took care of Minnesota despite 33 from Karl-Anthony Towns. The Bucks extended their hot streak against the Pacers in a 27-point victory with the help of 28 points from Jrue Holiday in the absence of reigning 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 22nd, 2021:
Memphis Grizzlies (132) vs. Boston Celtics (126) [OT]
[Highlights] @GRIZZLIES (-130; $11.23) d. CELTICS (+110; $8.12) 132-126 (OT) [MEM -2.5 | o220]
[Highlights] HORNETS (-204; $15.38) d. @SPURS (+176; $13.20) 100-97 [CHA +5 | u223]
[Highlights] @CLIPPERS (-260; $9.86) d. HAWKS (+213; $12.18) 119-110 [LAC -6.5 | o225.5]
[Highlights] THUNDER (+130; $9.25) d. @TIMBERWOLVES (-150; $6.81) 112-103 [OKC +3 | u216.5]
[Highlights] KINGS (-175; $9.77) d. @CAVALIERS (+152; $11.14) 119-105 [SAC -4 | o223.5]
[Highlights] @ROCKETS (+308; $4.79) d. RAPTORS (-380; $7.62) 117-99 [HOU +8.5 | u221.5]
[Highlights] JAZZ (-420; $13.29) d. @BULLS (+340; $11.02) 120-95 [UTA -9 | u228]
[Highlights] @BUCKS (-215; $9.71) d. PACERS (+180; $8.66) 140-113 [MIL -5.5 | o231]
JA CAN FLY 😳 pic.twitter.com/7AFZt8FTkn
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 23, 2021
ALL-ANGLES of Ja Morant weaving through traffic! 😱 pic.twitter.com/W57A7O8ctl
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2021
Wall hit 'em with the 360 😤 pic.twitter.com/gJ6XAM6sl5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 23, 2021
SGA sent him flying. Too smooth! (via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/XJiMegtAcD
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 23, 2021
Luke Kennard banks it in at the buzzer! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/mydcdUHodN
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 23, 2021
DANUEL HOUSE FROM MIDCOURT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ifV0KmY49f
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 23, 2021
Up top to force OT? We got a game in Memphis! (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/7v79Th0Lob
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 23, 2021
Rudy powers through the defense!
— NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2021
Gobert (14 PTS, 10 REB, career-high 9 BLK) is one block shy of a triple-double! pic.twitter.com/T79RKvs9tZ
Miles Bridges WINDMILL dunk.🔥🍿 pic.twitter.com/yyNvSzJA76
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) March 23, 2021
[Highlights] G Jrue Holiday, MIL (W v.IND): 28 PTS (11-15 FG | 5-6 3PT), 14 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] C Rudy Gobert, UTA (W @CHI): 21 PTS (9-11 FG | 0-0 3PT), 2 AST, 10 REB, 9 BLK, 0 STL, 0 TO
[Highlights] G Donovan Mitchell, UTA (W @CHI): 30 PTS (11-19 FG | 5-8 3PT), 6 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PG Ja Morant, MEM (W v.BOS): 29 PTS (12-25 FG | 1-5 3PT), 9 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] SF Luke Kennard, LAC (W v.ATL): 20 PTS (8-8 FG | 4-4 3PT), 4 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 0 TO
THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE IS BACK TO BEING WIDE OPEN
LaMelo Ball recently suffered a severe wrist injury, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season. Ball has had a sensational debut season in the NBA, and was the clear favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award until he recently suffered a season-ending injury. Ball, the third overall pick of the last draft, had helped the Hornets off to a surprising .500 record, which currently has them sitting at the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference.
With LaMelo Ball out for the rest of the season, the award that seemed to be the most secure is now up for grabs just like the rest o the NBA awards (MVP, DPOY, COY, and MIP). With LaMelo missing the rest of the season, Vegas has announced a new odds-on favorite, and that is Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft class.
Next to Edwards, the other man with a legitimate chance of claiming this award is Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings. Haliburton was the 12th overall pick of the draft, falling well behind counterparts Edwards and Ball. In the first night of action without LaMelo, Haliburton had 28 points in a win over the Cavs, and showed he can win rookie of the year.
It’s no secret that the Kings will be sellers at the deadline, and if Sacramento ends up moving on from Buddy Hield and/or Harrison Barnes, it will open up even more opportunities for Haliburton to shine and claim what was once the locked-up 2020-21 ROY award away from LaMelo Ball, who will miss a total of 31 games this year when it’s all said and done.
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