NBA
FULL NBA Review From March 30, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Tuesday, March 30, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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With a small slate of only four games on Tuesday, all of the NBA games were decided by 7-10 points. Phoenix held onto a lead that was diminished to only one with three minutes to go, and were able to outlast Atlanta at home, thanks to a Jae Crowder 4-point play dagger. Orlando started their contest against the Clippers very slowly, with only 13 points in the 1st quarter. They managed to outscore the Clips by 21 in the second half, as LA blew a 16-point lead, to secure a surprising road victory.
Denver, unlike Orlando, started the game extremely hot, dropping 44 to Philly’s 22 in the 1st quarter. Despite a better second half from the Sixers, Denver was able to hold on and win at home. Jamal Murray had 30 points while Michael Porter Jr. added 27 on an efficient night’s work. Charlotte played a solid game, and was able to top Washington on the road with the help of 27 points from Terry Rozier, who wasn’t able to match Westbrook’s triple-double production, but came through when it mattered with some clutch bucks for the win.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 30th, 2021:
Orlando Magic (103) vs Los Angeles Clippers (96)
[Highlights] MAGIC (+559; $7.00) d. @CLIPPERS (-759; $9.86) 103-96 [ORL +11.5 | u215]
[Highlights] @SUNS (-226; $13.87) d. HAWKS (+193; $12.18) 117-110 [PHX -5.5 | o220.5]
[Highlights] @NUGGETS (-202; $10.50) d. 76ERS (+174; $10.99) 104-95 [DEN -5 | u221]
[Highlights] HORNETS (-150; $15.38) d. @WIZARDS (+134; $8.77) 114-104 [CHA -3.5 | u228.5]
Nikola Jokic facts:
HUGE slam by Russ 😳 pic.twitter.com/BLLJzbMmrV
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2021
Miles Bridges put Robin Lopez in the blender and threw it down 💥 pic.twitter.com/FP39vMVxd9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 31, 2021
Kawhi made the tough finish look easy 😤 pic.twitter.com/WRRZz6CXez
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2021
Jae Crowder, CLUTCH 🥶 pic.twitter.com/mAFokfn8oC
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2021
MCW put an exclamation point on it 💥 pic.twitter.com/QnfswhjOsb
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2021
[Highlights] F Michael Porter Jr., DEN (W v.PHI): 27 PTS (11-16 FG | 5-7 3PT), 4 AST, 12 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (L v.CHA): 22 PTS (7-20 FG | 4-9 3PT), 14 AST, 15 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 5 TO
[Highlights] PG Jamal Murray, DEN (W v.PHI): 30 PTS (12-24 FG | 5-11 3PT), 4 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 0 TO
[Highlights] SF Gordon Hayward, CHA (W @WAS): 26 PTS (9-19 FG | 3-3 3PT), 6 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
[Highlights] PG Terry Rozier, CHA (W @WAS): 27 PTS (10-20 FG | 5-10 3PT), 4 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO
A CLIPPERS FIRST ROUND-EXIT IS NOT AS UNREASONABLE AS ONE MAY THINK
The LA Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, might be too highly regarded when it comes to the Western Conference title race. Vegas odds currently have them as the second most likely team to win it, behind their rival Lakers. The Clips sit in 3rd in the West as of now, behind Phoenix and Utah.
LA blew a 16-point lead without Paul George on Tuesday night at home to a Magic team that essentially traded away all of their key players at the NBA trade deadline. This is a very concerning look for a team that has title aspirations, even if it is on a back-to-back after beating the Bucks. It further shows their inconsistencies, lack of focus, and non-existent continuity.
If the NBA playoffs were to start today, LA would matchup with Portland. Portland recently got back their star guard CJ McCollum from injury, and have won six out of eight with him back in the lineup along with Jusuf Nurkic’s return and now the addition of Norman Powell. A backcourt of CJ and Damian Lillard is one that is dangerous and has proven they can make a playoff run, as they did when they made the Conference Finals during the most recent full regular season.
The Clips looked extremely vulnerable Tuesday night against a poor Orlando squad, and in a tougher Western Conference, a first-round exit is not a ridiculous thought. It is fair to consider teams like Utah, Denver, Portland, and the reigning champion Lakers as more threatening, considering the Clippers’ history of blowing leads (as they did once again vs. Orlando). Until LA can prove their choking habits are behind them, a fierce Western Conference could have them ousted earlier than people may realize.
COLORS KEY | FULL CLIPPERS OUTLOOK
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