FULL NBA Review From March 31, 2021

Wednesday night’s slate featured an exciting 10 games, where the favorites took care of business in seven of the ten. One of the upsets came from Minnesota, who put together an impressive fourth quarter to come back from down double digits, over New York. Another came in Boston, where Dallas held on to win by five despite being up 23 in the second half. Brooklyn started slow, per usual, but held Houston to just 40 points in the second half after giving up 42 in the first quarter. James Harden exited the game against his old team with a hamstring problem.

Mike Conley had 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, to overcome a deficit on their way to defeating Memphis. Miami had a stellar defensive performance, as it only took 92 points to beat Indiana on the road. Devin Booker had a season-high 45 points to fend off the new-look Chicago team at home and Sacramento’s five-game win streak was snapped by San Antonio behind 26 points from DeMar DeRozan.

The Los Angeles Lakers saw new arrival Andre Drummond leave with a bruised toe in a home loss to a Milwaukee team who has been playing well lately. The biggest upset of the night came from OKC, who defeated a struggling Toronto team with a strong second half effort and Damian Lillard dropped 33 points for Portland, who took care of business in Detroit.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 31st, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Minnesota Timberwolves (102) vs. New York Knicks (101)

[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+128; $6.81) d. KNICKS (-148; $15.43) 102-101 [MIN +3 | u217.5]

[Highlights] JAZZ (-248; $13.29) d. @GRIZZLIES (+208; $11.23) 111-107 [MEM +6 | u225]

[Highlights] MAVERICKS (-100; $9.74) d. @CELTICS (-120; $8.12) 113-108 [DAL +1.5 | u225]

[Highlights] @SUNS (-354; $13.87) d. BULLS (+294; $11.02) 121-116 [CHI +8 | o215.5]

[Highlights] HEAT (-122; $8.98) d. @PACERS (+104; $8.66) 92-87 [MIA -1.5 | u217.5]

[Highlights] @THUNDER (-315; $9.25) d. RAPTORS (+265; $7.62) 113-103 [OKC -7.5 | u221]

[Highlights] @NETS (-1071; $11.02) d. ROCKETS (+721; $4.79) 120-108 [HOU +12.5 | u229]

[Highlights] @SPURS (-140; $13.20) d. KINGS (+120; $9.77) 120-106 [SAS -2.5 | u230.5]

[Highlights] BUCKS (-361; $9.71) d. @LAKERS (+298; $10.15) 112-97 [MIL -8.5 | u222]

[Highlights] BLAZERS (-322; $10.40) d. @PISTONS (+268; $10.15) 124-101 [POR -8 | o221.5]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

Devin Booker scored 45+ PTS for a franchise-leading 6th time in his career. No other Suns player has more than 2 such GP
Joe Harris currently has the highest single-season 3P% (48.9) by a player with 6+ 3PA/GP in NBA history
De’Aaron Fox recorded the 2nd highest PPG (29.3) during a month by a Kings player since 1980, trailing DeMarcus Cousins
Most PPG in a month by a teenager in NBA history (min 10 GP): 1. Carmelo (27.1), 2. LeBron (26.3), 3. Edwards (24.2)
Ja Morant became the 2nd Grizzlies player to record 300+ PTS & 100+ AST during 1 month, joining Mike Conley
Toronto Raptors had their 3rd lowest WIN% in a calendar month (7.1%) in franchise history
Most GP with 30+ PTS/5+ REB/5+ AST in Mavs history: 1. Mark Aguirre (52), 2. Dirk Nowitzki (47), 3. Luka Doncic (46)

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Luka hitting crazy buckets

Luka from DEEP 🎯 pic.twitter.com/kErh6QnXve
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2021

Some monster dunks on a Wednesday

Jerami Grant with the HAMMER 🔨 pic.twitter.com/QfgNduFevj
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2021

GOBERT. OH MY. 😳 pic.twitter.com/06pfNrdnem
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2021

Lopez YAMMED on Trez 😯 pic.twitter.com/kINIeUDkFf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 1, 2021

Dejounte Murray threw it DOWN 😤 pic.twitter.com/xL5K2erPPo
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2021

Giannis couldn’t stop Caruso

CARUSO OVER GIANNIS 😳 pic.twitter.com/U7SU8yY0Tj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 1, 2021

Booker & Beasley in the clutch

Booker hits the clutch bucket.

He's got 45 PTS on 17-24 FG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/t0RW3x3Blz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 1, 2021

Clutch 👌 by Malik Beasley!#Crunchtime pic.twitter.com/akHVi4edvZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 1, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] SG Devin Booker, PHX (W v.CHI): 45 PTS (17-24 FG | 2-5 3PT), 4 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] PG Damian Lillard, POR (W @DET): 33 PTS (9-19 FG | 5-7 3PT), 10 AST, 4 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] PG Kyrie Irving, BKN (W v.HOU): 31 PTS (12-25 FG | 3-8 3PT), 12 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] G Luka Doncic, DAL (W @BOS): 36 PTS (11-15 FG | 7-11 3PT), 5 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 8 TO

[Highlights] G Jrue Holiday, MIL (W @LAL): 28 PTS (11-16 FG | 3-5 3PT), 6 AST, 8 REB, 1 BLK, 4 STL, 4 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

THIS EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE IS POISED TO BE AS EXCITING AS EVER

The Eastern Conference standings are looking a lot different than what many expected over halfway through the 2020-21 NBA season. Additionally, a large chunk of teams aren’t separated by much. The 4-8 spots are currently separated by 1.5 games total. This year is more important than any to fight for a top-six spot and not get stuck in seventh or eighth. This is because with the shortened season due to COVID, the ninth and tenth spots will have a chance to beat those last two seeds to make it to the playoffs.

The teams who finish seventh and eighth based on win percentage will play a game to decide who gets the seventh seed. The loser will play the winner of a ninth vs. tenth seeded game, and the winner of that will capture the final spot, the eighth seed, in the playoffs. With so many teams so close together, and more shots at a playoff spot up for grabs, it is shaping up to be one of the most exciting playoff races ever seen.

Also, there are many teams in surprising spots right now. Charlotte is currently in fourth, which means they would actually have home-court advantage in the first round. The defending conference champs, the Heat, are in fifth after missing Jimmy Butler early in the season. New York, a laughing stock in recent years, are currently sixth and safe from the play-in tournament. Most shockingly is Boston, who was considered to be a top team in the preseason, are in eighth, and would have to earn their spot via the play-in tourney.

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