FULL NBA Review From May 12, 2021

The race to stay out of the play-in tournament was back in action across the Western Conference. Coming into the night, Dallas and Portland were tied for fifth and the LA Lakers were a game behind in seventh. Leaving the evening, this is exactly how it still sits because all three squads won. Dallas defeated New Orleans behind 33 points from Luka Doncic, Portland won their fifth straight on the road in Utah, and Kyle Kuzma’s game-winner lifted the Lake show over Houston.

Across the rest of the league, Atlanta topped Washington and clinched a playoff berth thanks to a go-ahead three from John Collins. Cleveland beat Boston thanks to 30 points from Kevin Love, which actually clinched postseason berths for both New York (first time since 2013) and Miami, who were inactive on the night. James Harden returned for Brooklyn with a double-double and a victory over San Antonio, giving Brooklyn a strong chance at landing a top-two spot in the East.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from May 12th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Houston Rockets (122) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (124) [GW-FG]

[Highlights] @LAKERS (-1018; $8.76) d. ROCKETS (+689; $3.96) 124-122 (GW-FG) [HOU +13 | o224]

[Highlights] @HAWKS (-260; $13.49) d. WIZARDS (+215; $11.10) 120-116 (GW-3PM) [WSH +6.5 | u238.5]

[Highlights] BLAZERS (+109; $10.97) d. @JAZZ (-127; $13.07) 105-98 [POR +2 | u234]

[Highlights] @CAVALIERS (+241; $9.60) d. CELTICS (-284; $7.83) 102-94 [CLE +7 | u219.5]

[Highlights] @NETS (-173; $10.90) d. SPURS (+155; $12.30) 128-116 [BKN -4 | o231.5]

[Highlights] @MAVERICKS (-320; $10.01) d. PELICANS (+267; $8.93) 125-107 [DAL -7.5 | o224]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

The Pelicans were eliminated on Wednesday after a season full of blowing big leads

New Orleans has the most blown double-digit leads (14) in the NBA during the 2020-21 season

Russell Westbrook is the best facilitator in the NBA

1st player with 15+ AST in 6 consecutive GP since John Stockton in 1990
T-2nd most consecutive GP (3) with 25+ PTS & 15+ AST in NBA history, behind 1972 Tiny Archibald (4)

Rudy Gobert is proving to be the best rebounder in the NBA

T-most GP (6) with 20+ REB in the NBA this season and the 1st Jazz player to record 20+ REB in 6 GP since 1978-79

Trae Young has had one hell of a start to his career

Joins Oscar Robertson as the only 2 players with 1,500+ PTS & 500+ REB in each of their 1st 3 seasons in NBA history

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

What a sick dish for the assist by Trae

What a dish by Trae 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eKhytFdjJ9
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 12, 2021

Depleted Lake Show showed out on ring night

Wes Matthews and THT get the game-sealing steal ❄️

Big time win for LA pic.twitter.com/BSXjknDap1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 13, 2021

KYLE KUZMA PUTS THE LAKERS IN FRONT!@HoustonRockets 122@Lakers 123

6.9 remaining. HOU ball. pic.twitter.com/TBvgz1ndPy
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2021

This dish by Kuzma 😳 pic.twitter.com/vlngYvLpi6
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 13, 2021

THT coming THROUGH 💥 pic.twitter.com/J9CwtELVZp
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 13, 2021

The Beard’s back with an insane bounce pass

The Beard is back and serving up dimes 👀 pic.twitter.com/UuATsIjMxp
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 13, 2021

JoCo’s clutch GW-3PM clinches playoff spot

Clint Capela block, Trae Young push, John Collins triple for the lead!@WashWizards 116@ATLHawks 117

24.4 remaining on ESPN pic.twitter.com/DY1kT319Lf
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2021

Full court dime right before halftime

Nurkic throws it deep to CJ to beat the halftime buzzer on ESPN!@trailblazers 59@utahjazz 56 pic.twitter.com/8yjO6jX878
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (L @ATL): 34 PTS (12-28 FG | 4-9 3P), 15 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] PG Trae Young, ATL (W v.WSH): 33 PTS (12-25 FG | 2-8 3P), 9 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] PF Kevin Love, CLE (W v.BOS): 30 PTS (10-16 FG | 6-9 3P), 3 AST, 14 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] G Luka Doncic, DAL (W v.NOP): 33 PTS (12-24 FG | 7-15 3P), 8 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO

[Highlights] G James Harden, BKN (W v.SAS): 18 PTS (6-8 FG | 3-4 3P), 11 AST, 7 REB, 2 BLK, 2 STL, 4 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

NATE MCMILLAN TURNED ATLANTA’S SEASON AROUND AND ENDED THE PLAYOFF DROUGHT

34 games into the 2020-21 NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks were sitting 11th in the East at 14-20 with Lloyd Pierce leading the team. He was then fired after a slow start and missing the playoffs in his first two seasons (Atlanta had made it in the previous 10), leaving with a 63-120 record. The Hawks hired Nate McMillan to be an assistant coach before the season, who was fired from Indiana after their playoff exit last season.

Since he took over as HC after Pierce’s dismissal, Atlanta has the fourth-best record (25-11) in the NBA and clinched a postseason spot on 5/12. McMillan has led a remarkable turnaround for Atlanta, by helping his players play more for one another and less as individuals. His star player Trae Young is down on PPG from last season but is averaging a career-high in APG. McMillan has found ways for his team to be more efficient and get great production from a number of players.

Clint Capela is averaging a career-high in rebounds, and both Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic are shooting over 40% from deep. John Collins has been great for McMillan too, averaging 17.8 points per game on 55.9% shooting. Additionally, there are six players with over 40 games played this season averaging double figures for his squad, showing how he’s been able to use depth to get wins. McMillan has done an amazing job in just 36 games and has given Hawks fans new hope for the future.

COLORS KEY | FULL HAWKS OUTLOOK