NBA Game Reviews: January 31, 2021

Sunday night showcased a clear-cut Game of the Year contender as Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook each drained CLUTCH 3PM to bring the Wizards back in a game they had no business winning. The Nets, without James Harden, have now been on the other end of two of DC’s four wins this season, as the current favorite to land the No.1 pick in a stacked 2021 NBA Draft.

Philadelphia managed to pull off a comeback of their own against Indiana to pick up their first win of the season without Joel Embiid‘s presence (previously 0-4). The Jazz tried to come back themselves and extend their 11-game winning streak, but Nikola Jokic was too dominant to contain. Pascal Siakam made a statement against Aaron Gordon and the Magic, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers handled their business in the Big Apple, and the No.1 pick Anthony Edwards stepped up for a Minnesota victory vs. Cleveland.

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

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Brooklyn Nets (146) vs. Washington Wizards (149) [GW-3PM]

[Highlights] @WIZARDS (+229; $7.08) d. NETS (-229; $9.88) 149-146 (GW-3PM) [WAS +6 | o246]

[Highlights] @TIMBERWOLVES (+138; $6.82) d. CAVALIERS (-138; $12.82) 109-104 [MIN -3 | u218]

[Highlights] 76ERS (-109; $10.66) d. @PACERS (+109; $10.12) 119-110 [PHI -1.5 | o223]

[Highlights] @NUGGETS (+128; $9.92) d. JAZZ (-128; $12.72) 128-117 [DEN +2.5 | o220.5]

[Highlights] @RAPTORS (-203; $7.43) d. MAGIC (+203; $8.60) 115-102 [TOR -5.5 | o215.5]

[Highlights] CLIPPERS (-298; $11.45) d. @KNICKS (+298; $14.83) 129-115 [LAC -8 | o212]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX

INTERESTING FACTS

Bucks (117.8), Clippers (117.7), Nets (117.6), & Nuggets (117.0) are ALL on pace to surpass the ORtg record in 2020-21
Brooklyn Nets have the best ORtg (122.6) ever AND the worst DRtg (119.9) ever since acquiring James Harden
KD & Westbrook avg the most combined PPG (61.8) when facing each other among players that faced each other 10+ times
Clippers on pace for the 2nd highest 3P% (41.6%) in a season in NBA history, trailing only the 1996-97 Hornets (42.8%)
Utah Jazz have tied the record for most consecutive GP (10) with 15+ 3PM in NBA history
Nuggets recorded the highest 3P% (88.2%) among any NBA team with 15+ 3PM in a single half; previous high was 75%
Westbrook (41) & Beal (37) are 1st Wizards teammates w/ 37+ PTS in a game since moving to DC in 1974
Brooklyn Nets have already tied a franchise record by allowing 140+ PTS in 3 different games in a single-season
Immanuel Quickley is the only NYK rookie to record consecutive GP of 25+ PTS off the bench since 1970-71

Nikola Jokic facts:

Most consecutive double-doubles (20) to begin a season since 1978
Only Center to put up 25+ PPG/10+ RPG/5+ APG/55+ FG% over a month since 1983 (done it 2x)
1st Nuggets player with 45+ PTS/10+ REB/5+ AST/65%+ FG in a game since 1980

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT AN ENDING IN WASHINGTON

BEAL AND WESTBROOK.

UNREAL. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aMJfXTxWy7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 1, 2021

KD & Siakam slam it down with authority

KD POSTER 😳 pic.twitter.com/r5PtOgRpgf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 1, 2021

Pascal Siakam was a problem for the Magic 🔥

🔥 30 Pts
🔥 10 Reb pic.twitter.com/tqkfPxw7Ik
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 1, 2021

DeAndre getting it done on both ends

KD to DJ.
BIG OOP. pic.twitter.com/sBB5qhaj2Z
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 1, 2021

DJ gettin' MEAN on both ends 😤 pic.twitter.com/Iqj1qRaa7I
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 1, 2021

No. 1 pick showing off the handles

OOF. This move from Anthony Edwards 😤 pic.twitter.com/Kju4WZwWSI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 1, 2021

The Klaw takes it right to the rack

Kawhi throws it DOWN. 😤 pic.twitter.com/qTpsuKvhXa
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) January 31, 2021

Bradley Beal with the fancy finish

What a finish by Beal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YbYikBAnk4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 1, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] C Nikola Jokic, DEN (W v.UTA): 47 PTS (17-26 FG | 4-4 3PT), 5 AST, 12 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (W v.BKN): 41 PTS (16-28 FG | 4-7 3PT), 8 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO

[Highlights] SF Kevin Durant, BKN (L @WAS): 37 PTS (11-19 FG | 2-4 3PT), 6 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 5 TO

[Highlights] SG Bradley Beal, WAS (W v.BKN): 37 PTS (13-23 FG | 2-5 3PT), 4 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] PF Pascal Siakam, TOR (W v.ORL): 30 PTS (12-23 FG | 0-2 3PT), 3 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 3 STL, 2 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

1. Taking the Over in Nets games has been the lock of the year because of their all-time offense & awful defense

A previous PSO takeaway shined a light on expecting high-scoring affairs in plenty of Brooklyn games this season. Now, it’s become an every night event. The Nets consistently have the highest Over/Under set by Vegas, yet they and their opponents are still surpassing those expectations by leaps and bounds as the O/U has hit in 15 of the last 16 Nets games.

Since Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden have teamed up, they are on pace to break the all-time single-season NBA record with a 122.6 offensive rating while simultaneously in line to break the single-season defensive rating record as well (119.9). Their offense is other-worldy but their defense is abysmal. They can combine for 120+ points without even practicing, but can’t prevent a team from reaching the same threshold even when they try.

When watching their games, it doesn’t look like they are trying at times, specifically on the defensive end. This isn’t unusual as plenty of title contenders typically don’t pick things up until after the All-Star break. Even then, this team isn’t built to defend at a high level since they traded their rim protector, and their other two best defenders in the blockbuster trade to acquire Harden.

The Wizards have only won four games this season, with 50% of them coming against the KD/Kyrie-led Nets as Harden wasn’t available for either game. Brooklyn’s chances of competing for a championship would increase significantly if they’re able to add a prominent player who can anchor the team on that side of the ball to play alongside three all-time scorers who all lack a defensive edge at this stage in their careers. Until then, keep taking the OVER and enjoy witnessing history.

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