FULL NBA Review From March 29, 2021

Monday’s NBA action saw history being made and a few close finishes take place. Russell Westbrook recorded the first-ever game with 35+ points, 20+ assists, and 10+ rebounds as he also became the Wizards all-time triple-doubles leader. James Harden tied a Brooklyn Nets triple-double record as the Nets saw their lead get chopped down to only one with under a minute left in regulation, but they squeezed out the win late in Kyrie Irving’s return.

New Orleans nearly blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead on the road to the C’s, but squeaked out the win thanks to a historically awful team debut from Evan Fournier. Miami snapped a six-game losing streak on the road in New York, behind a 39-point 3rd quarter. The depleted Clips, as home underdogs, took care of Milwaukee for their sixth win in a row without PG, Beverley, Ibaka, or Rondo. Steph Curry made his return in a home win over Chicago with 32 points, picking up right where he left off.

Jonas Valanciunas had 30 points for Memphis in a win against the struggling Houston side as Ja Morant showed off an acrobatic finish at the rim. Detroit, at home, took care of the underwhelming Toronto team that’s struggling mightily, Dallas took care of business in OKC, Sacramento won their fifth straight against San Antonio, and Utah blew out Cleveland in yet another home victory.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 29th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Brooklyn Nets (112) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (107)

[Highlights] @NETS (-754; $11.02) d. TIMBERWOLVES (+553; $6.81) 112-107 [MIN +11 | u239]

[Highlights] PELICANS (+123; $8.69) d. @CELTICS (-140; $8.12) 115-109 [NOP +2 | u229.5]

[Highlights] @WIZARDS (+170; $8.77) d. PACERS (-195; $8.66) 132-124 [WAS +5 | o233]

[Highlights] HEAT (-180; $8.98) d. @KNICKS (+157; $15.43) 98-88 [MIA -4 | u204.5]

[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (-349; $11.23) d. @ROCKETS (+287; $4.79) 120-110 [MEM -8 | o225.5]

[Highlights] @PISTONS (+140; $10.15) d. RAPTORS (-155; $7.62) 118-104 [DET +3.5 | o214]

[Highlights] @WARRIORS (-105; $8.74) d. BULLS (-115; $11.02) 116-102 [GSW +1 | u226.5]

[Highlights] KINGS (+120; $9.77) d. @SPURS (-140; $13.20) 132-115 [SAC +2.5 | o228]

[Highlights] MAVERICKS (-654; $9.74) d. @THUNDER (+494; $9.25) 127-106 [DAL -11 | o220.5]

[Highlights] @CLIPPERS (+117; $9.86) d. BUCKS (-134; $9.71) 129-105 [LAC +1.5 | o232]

[Highlights] @JAZZ (-2000; $13.29) d. CAVALIERS (+966; $11.14) 114-75 [UTA -16 | u219.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

James Harden tied the Nets franchise record with his 12th triple-double in a season
Harden passed Jason Kidd for the most all-time 30-PT triple-doubles (4) in Nets history
Josh Hart has the most GP (3) with 15+ REB by a Guard off the bench in a season since 1983
Evan Fournier recorded the most scoreless MIN (33) with 10+ FGA by a Celtics player in the 3-point era (since 1980)
Fournier became the 4th player to go 0-10 FG or worse in their debut with a new team since 1954-1955
Zion now has the 2nd longest streak of GP (24) with 20+ PTS & 50%+ FG in NBA history, trailing only Shaq (25 GP)

Russell Westbrook facts:

Became the 1st player with 35+ PTS/20+ AST/10+ REB (35p/14r/21a) during 1 GP in NBA history
Most triple-doubles in Wiz history: 1. Westbrook (16 in 38 GP), 2. Darrell Walker (15 in 283 GP), 3. John Wall (7 in 573 GP)
Has 6 GP with 20+ PTS & 20+ AST in the last 5 seasons. The rest of the NBA has 1 (Chris Paul)
Most career GP (4) of 20+ PTS/20+ AST/10+ REB in NBA history, passing the Big O

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Morant making moves at the rim

Ja with the acrobatic finish 😮 pic.twitter.com/ZKZUM3BbAQ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

Curry came back to cook up Chicago

Sheesh, Steph 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FvByyRGEKJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

Draymond from way deep

LOGO DRAYMOND 🎯 pic.twitter.com/yjIR6wKvG7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

Kristaps threw it down with authority

Kristaps threw it DOWN 💥 pic.twitter.com/MrcJFKqYXa
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

Blake threads it to the corner

What a dish by Blake Griffin 👀 pic.twitter.com/IJee6cLyUd
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

Ingram delivered the dagger over Tatum

Big shot from B.I. on the step back! Pels up by 5 with just over 30 seconds left pic.twitter.com/o03h7t1YgW
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 30, 2021

Chase down block from Batum

Nic Batum with the REJECTION ❌ pic.twitter.com/TqH6aVNiAg
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (W v.IND): 35 PTS (14-26 FG | 4-6 3PT), 21 AST, 14 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] SG James Harden, BKN (W v.MIN): 38 PTS (11-25 FG | 4-8 3PT), 13 AST, 11 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 6 TO

[Highlights] C Jonas Valanciunas, MEM (W @HOU): 30 PTS (13-18 FG | 0-0 3PT), 1 AST, 15 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GS (W v.CHI): 32 PTS (11-24 FG | 6-14 3PT), 6 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] PF Domantas Sabonis, IND (L @WAS): 35 PTS (12-19 FG | 1-3 3PT), 6 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 5 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS THE GREATEST TRIPLE-DOUBLE MACHINE IN NBA HISTORY

Russell Westbrook had himself a night to remember against Indiana on Monday. The guard tallied 35 points, a season-high 21 assists, and 14 rebounds. This marked the first ever 35+ point, 20+ assist triple-double in NBA history. He also broke Washington’s franchise record for triple-doubles with his 16th, and has only played 37 games in their uniform.

There are stats to back up the claim that Westbrook is the greatest triple-double machine ever. He holds the record for most T-D’s in a single season, which was 42 during his 2016-17 MVP campaign. He put up a triple-double in over half of his games during that magical season. He surpassed a record held by Oscar Roberston since the 1961-62 season that stood for 55 years! Additionally, he holds two of the top three single season triple-double records, as well as three of the top seven.

In regards to all-time, he currently sits in second place, 20 behind the great Oscar Roberston. Westbrook is currently 32 years of age, and has shown no signs of slowing down. He already has 16 this season alone, in just 37 games. He is averaging a triple-double this season, for the fourth time in his career while Robertson’s 61-62 season is the only other time a player has done that.

Assuming Russ continues his dominance, there is no reason to believe he shouldn’t pass Robertson on the all-time leaderboard early next season. These incredible stats show Westbrook’s excellent level of production as the greatest to ever do it when it comes to contributing in all facets of the game at a high level and record that illustrious triple-double.

COLORS KEY | FULL WIZARDS OUTLOOK