NBA
NBA Game Reviews: February 2, 2021
See the NBA Game Reviews from Tuesday, February 2, 2021 with entertaining highlights, key facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
NBA/YouTube
Fred VanVleet was the story of the day on Tuesday as he shredded Orlando’s defense for a franchise-record 54 points that simultaneously broke the record for an Undrafted player as well. Three former top-3 picks that form Brooklyn’s Big 3 took care of business vs. the Clippers as Kyrie set a season-high with 38 points. The Celtics-Warriors was a great matchup that witnessed Boston go on a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to clinch their victory in the Bay.
Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook have had their battles over the years, but Dame out-dueled Russ for a Blazers victory in the nation’s capital. Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner dominated in the Pacers blowout win vs. Memphis to end the Grizzlies’ 7-game winning streak and Donovan Mitchell dropped 30 points in a Jazz victory over Detroit.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from February 2nd, 2021:
Los Angeles Clippers (120) vs. Brooklyn Nets (124)
[Highlights] @NETS (+109; $9.51) d. CLIPPERS (-109; $11.62) 124-120 [BKN +1.5 | o242.5]
[Highlights] CELTICS (-123; $8.74) d. @WARRIORS (+123; $8.69) 111-107 [BOS -2.5 | u226.5]
[Highlights] BLAZERS(+128; $9.98) d. @WIZARDS (-128; $7.70) 132-121 [POR +2.5 | o241.5]
[Highlights] @JAZZ (-667; $12.41) d. PISTONS (+667; $8.59) 117-105 [PUSH -12 | o218]
[Highlights] RAPTORS (-232; $7.59) @MAGIC (+232; $8.46) 123-108 [TOR -6.5 | o215.5]
[Highlights] @PACERS (-168; $9.72) d. GRIZZLIES (+168; $12.80) 134-116 [IND -4.5 | o221]
Steph Curry facts:
Unforgettable night for FVV 🙌
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
Dropped a career-high and Raptors franchise record 54 PTS. pic.twitter.com/Du80oTgEn9
Kelly Oubre to the rim 🔨 pic.twitter.com/1TkiJ9C3gU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
James Harden heaves it full-court to Jeff Green to extend the lead!@LAClippers 119@BrooklynNets 122
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2021
2.7 left on TNT. LAC at the line. pic.twitter.com/nTISTWFiRA
This is what @KyrieIrving does!!#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Qw9EVlUNOm
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 3, 2021
Kyrie's handle is smooth 😯 pic.twitter.com/1lBQxIKoH5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
Kyrie hitting whatever moves he wants 😳 pic.twitter.com/ecYM2rTuW0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2021
Kyrie AGAIN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2021
Catch the finish on @NBAonTNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/vS3KJJ0SRo
Jaylen Brown GOT UP 😤 pic.twitter.com/UOm3PeiYwq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
Dame let ‘em know what time it was ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/80N1YYsu0o
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
[Highlights] G Fred VanVleet, TOR (W @ORL): 54 PTS (17-23 FG | 11-14 3PT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 3 BLK, 3 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, GS (L v.BOS): 38 PTS (12-21 FG | 7-14 FG), 8 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PF Domantis Sabonis, IND (W v.MEM): 32 PTS (13-15 FG | 2-2 3PT), 5 AST, 13 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PG Kyrie Irving, BKN (W v.LAC): 39 PTS (15-23 FG | 6-8 3PT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 2 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] SG James Harden, BKN (W v.LAC): 23 PTS (7-15 FG | 1-6 3PT), 14 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO
1. Fred VanVleet is the greatest undrafted scorer of all-time
For College Basketball fans reading this, some remember the Wichita State runs of the mid-2010s that heavily featured 2x Conference Player of the Year Fred VanVleet. That player NCAA fans witnessed is completely different than the Raptors record-breaker that FVV has become. 60 players heard their name get called in the 2016 NBA Draft, but Fred VanVleet wasn’t one of them.
It hasn’t stopped the Wichita State product from evolving into one of the best offensive players in the game and on the cusp of potentially reaching his first career All-Star Game. VanVleet was a crucial factor in Toronto winning their first championship in franchise history as he stepped up numerous times when the Raptors needed it most, including in the fourth quarter of the series-clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
No matter what happens from here on out, VanVleet will always be a legend in the 6ix for his playoff heroics. However, now he’s starting to cement his legacy as one of the greatest undrafted players of all-time. With his 54 points on Tuesday, he surpassed DeMar DeRozan‘s franchise-record and also set the single-game record for all UDFA’s in NBA history. As he continues to improve and move up the all-time rankings, he’s already worthy of the No.1 spot on greatest undrafted scorers to ever play the game.
Other contenders include Connie Hawkins (1967-76) who’s best two years came in the ABA and John Starks who was an All-Star in the 1990’s. VanVleet only has five years in the NBA under his belt so far, but he’s now averaging over 20 PPG and had a lucrative contract that has him poised to take over as Toronto’s premier playmaker once Kyle Lowry departs or retires. Ben Wallace still deserves to be considered the greatest undrafted player of all-time, but his impact was almost solely on the defensive end. It’s time to consider FVV the greatest undrafted offensive player to ever live.
COLORS KEY | FULL RAPTORS FUTURE OUTLOOK
Share this with friends and follow for more great sports content!
