NBA
Final NBA Review of the 2020-21 Regular Season
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Sunday, May 16, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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Sunday night marked the end of the regular season, as all 30 teams battled it out for final seedings. Dallas lost to Minnesota behind Anthony Edwards’ 30 points and final rookie of the year audition, Portland topped Denver with a double-double from Damian Lillard, and LeBron James tweaked his ankle against New Orleans, but still got the win with 25 points. These results caused a three-way tie from five to seven in the West, and ultimately sent LA to the play-in on a tiebreaker.
New York’s victory over Boston secured them a first-round series with home court advantage. They will battle Atlanta, who beat Houston with career-highs in points and rebounds from rookie Onyeka Okongwu. Jordan Clarkson dropped 33 points for Utah in their win over Sacramento, finishing one game above Phoenix for first place in the West. E’Twaun Moore’s game-winning three over San Antonio would’ve given them the one spot if Utah had lost. Brooklyn secured the two seed with a win over Cleveland behind KD’s double-double.
Steph Curry became the scoring champ after a 46-point outing in a win over Memphis. Golden State now matches up with the LA Lakers in a must-see play-in series. The LA Clippers dropped to fourth after their loss to OKC. Washington jumped from 10th to eighth thanks to a win over Charlotte, and now have an extra shot at making the final 16. Miami routed Detroit, and are set to face Milwaukee, who lost to Chicago, in the first round. Domantas Sabonis’ double-double helped Indiana defeat Toronto, and Philly handled Orlando meaninglessly.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from May 16th, 2021:
Phoenix Suns (123) vs. San Antonio Spurs (121) [GW-3PM]
[Highlights] SUNS (-398) d. @SPURS 123-121 (GW-3PM) [SAS +9 | o225.5]
[Highlights] @KNICKS (-800) d. CELTICS 96-92 [BOS +12 | u212.5]
[Highlights] @WIZARDS (-239) d. HORNETS 115-110 [CHA +6 | u228.5]
[Highlights] @THUNDER (+276) d. CLIPPERS 117-112 [OKC +8 | o220.5]
[Highlights] @BULLS (+110) d. BUCKS 118-112 [CHI +1.5 | o222.5]
[Highlights] @76ERS (-325) d. MAGIC 128-117 [PHI -7.5 | o218]
[Highlights] @WARRIORS (-177) d. GRIZZLIES 113-101 [GSW -4 | u229.5]
[Highlights] LAKERS (-670) d. @PELICANS 110-98 [LAL -10.5 | u223.5]
[Highlights] PACERS (-237) d. @RAPTORS 125-113 [IND -6 | o228]
[Highlights] HEAT (-210) d. @PISTONS 120-107 [MIA -5 | o215.5]
[Highlights] @NETS (-1300 d. CAVALIERS 123-109 [PUSH -14 | o225.5]
[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+208) d. MAVERICKS 136-121 [MIN +6.5 | o230]
[Highlights] @BLAZERS (-720) d. NUGGETS 132-116 [POR -10.5 | o230.5]
[Highlights] JAZZ (-480) d. @KINGS 121-99 [UTA -9.5 | u223.5]
[Highlights] @HAWKS (-333) d. ROCKETS 124-95 [ATL -7.5 | u231.5]
What an unbelievable season from Steph Curry
Clippers just had 1 of the most efficient seasons ever
Draymond Green is the most unique player ever
Utah capped off their historic season with the best record in the NBA
LeBron James can be considered the most CONSISTENT scorer of all-time
Another historic triple-double season for Russell Westbrook is in the books
Tony Snell was about as efficient as it gets
KD ALLEY-OOP OFF THE BACKBOARD 😱 pic.twitter.com/62KpC7LcDF
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2021
E'TWAUN MOORE CALLED GAME 🎯 pic.twitter.com/DUDx90ToTd
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 16, 2021
Steph (46 PTS) leads the Warriors to a win over Memphis as Golden State clinches the No. 8 seed in the West! 💪 pic.twitter.com/TirpNRCaVE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 16, 2021
James Johnson with AUTHORITY 💥 pic.twitter.com/FN2BbJXpmE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2021
KUZMA ALLEY-OOPS TO HIMSELF OFF THE BACKBOARD 👀 pic.twitter.com/fQjNdfMvkG
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2021
Naji Marshall beats the buzzer from WAY out! 😳 pic.twitter.com/KlAIBGaOF5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2021
Trae with a between-the-legs dish 👀 pic.twitter.com/VshXjJR3id
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 16, 2021
Bron dropping behind-the-back dimes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HsAeD4ZnN7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2021
[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GSW (W v.MEM): 46 PTS (16-36 FG | 9-22 3P), 9 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 7 TO
[Highlights] C Moses Brown, OKC (W v.LAC): 24 PTS (12-19 FG | 0-0 3P), 3 AST, 18 REB, 7 BLK, 0 STL, 0 TO
[Highlights] F Kevin Durant, BKN (W v.CLE): 23 PTS (8-10 FG | 1-2 3P), 13 AST, 8 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (W v.CHA): 23 PTS (6-15 FG | 2-8 3P), 10 AST, 15 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PF Domantas Sabonis, IND (W @TOR): 25 PTS (12-18 FG | 1-2 3P), 5 AST, 16 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 6 TO
PHILADELPHIA’S PATH TO REACH THE CONFERENCE FINALS IS ABOUT AS EASY AS IT GETS
After each team played their final game on Sunday night, the playoff field and seedings were finalized. The Philadelphia 76ers are looking like the big winner after the bracket was all said and done. They have had the one seed in the East locked up for a few games now, and their hard work to earn this position is looking like it is going to pay off big time. Luckily, their path runs through some of the weakest teams in the entire playoff field.
Since they’ve received the top spot, their first-round matchup is not yet determined but will be the second team to come out of the play-in tournament. No matter who they face, it’ll be a team without the week of rest they get and coming off playing two games instead of rest. Their most likely opponent is Boston who is now without Jaylen Brown while Indiana has had problems with coaches, Charlotte has struggled without Hayward, and DC’s best player Bradley Beal is dealing with a hamstring injury that could limit him.
Assuming they don’t get upset by an eight seed, which hasn’t happened since 2012 when Derrick Rose went down with an injury for Chicago, Philly will draw New York or Atlanta in round two. These two teams, although seeded fourth and fifth respectively, are extremely unproven and don’t have the same level of talent. ATL hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016 and NY’s on an eight-season drought. Essentially, Philadelphia’s competition to reach the conference finals is about as easy as it gets in the postseason.
COLORS KEY | FULL 76ERS OUTLOOK
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