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The Best of the Day: April 21st, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from April 21, 2021 including Randle's rise to stardom after huge game vs. ATL, A's turnaround, and more!
POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 4/21 here.
Wednesday’s NBA action saw Julius Randle put the Knicks on his back in New York’s OT victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Randle has taken an exponential leap forward in his seventh NBA season, becoming one of the best PF’s in the league, and as a result, has the Knicks in position to make the playoffs. Also, Nikola Jokic has cemented his case as league MVP since Jamal Murray went out, Byron Buxton made an awesome diving catch, and the Oakland A’s have made one of the greatest turnarounds ever in MLB history.
Here is the best of the day from April 21, 2021:
Julius Randle’s remarkable season continues as Knicks OT win elevates them to 4th seed
Julius Randle dropped 40 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists to lead the Knicks to an 137-127 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night. It was New York’s eighth straight win, the longest current streak in the NBA. The victory also vaulted the Knicks into the fourth spot in the East, giving them a half-game lead over the Hawks.
JULIUS RANDLE 💪
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 22, 2021
(Via @nyknicks)
pic.twitter.com/TVegCscfUH
The biggest takeaway from Wednesday though, is the continued rise of Julius Randle. In his second season with the Knicks, the 26-year-old Kentucky product has blossomed into one of the best PF’s in the game. He is averaging career-highs in MIN (NBA-leading 37.5), PTS (23.9), REB (10.5), 3P% (41.0), FT% (80.7), and STL (1.0), while dwarfing his previous high in AST (3.6 to 6.1).
Randle has taken a massive leap forward this season, becoming an all-around threat whenever he steps foot on the court. That was recognized earlier this season when Randle was named to his first All-Star team. Perhaps the biggest impact of his development though, is that he has given Knicks fans something that they haven’t felt in a long time: hope.
Julius Randle tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 22, 2021
40 PTS
11 REB
6 AST
11-21 FG
6-8 3P
12-13 FT
He is the first Knick in franchise history with a 40/10/5 game on 50/40/90% shooting. pic.twitter.com/bImsSCYLYC
Julius Randle is the 1st #Knicks player with multiple GP of 40+ PTS/10+ REB/5+ AST during 1 season since Bernard King in 1985 https://t.co/zBSYBQLvJL
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 22, 2021
Related: Stories of the Day
NIKOLA JOKIC IS CEMENTING HIS MVP CASE IN JAMAL MURRAY’S ABSENCE
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets beat Portland in a close matchup on Wednesday night, and it was the Joker who stole the show. Jokic led the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Jamal Murray was recently ruled out for the season with a torn ACL against Golden State on April 12th, and Jokic has had no problem picking up the slack.
In the four games Murray has been out thus far, the Joker has led his team in points three times, rebounds three times, and assists in all four games. He’s had a triple-double once and a double-double three times. On top of this, Denver has won every single game since Murray’s absence (4-0), and the 2020-21 MVP is the main reason why.
Before Murray’s injury, Jokic was the odds-on favorite to win the league’s MVP award, and these last four games without their star guard have helped him cement his case. With the Joker averaging nearly a triple-double this year (26.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 8.7 APG), it is clearly his award to lose. Jokic has been playing at the highest level all year, but his performances in the past four games without Murray in four straight wins over teams like Miami and Portland further prove why he deserves to be this season’s league MVP.
COLORS KEY | FULL NUGGETS OUTLOOK
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Byron Buxton went full extension for this one
Byron Buxton 😳 pic.twitter.com/DJtbb2tuwV
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2021
Related: MLB Highlights
PF Julius Randle, NYK (W vs.ATL): 40 PTS (11-21 FG | 6-8 3P), 6 AST, 11 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (4/21/21) - PF Julius Randle, NYK
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 22, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 1st Knick ever with 40p/10r/5a on 50/40/90% in 1 GP
- 1st NYK w/ 2+ GP of 40p/10r/5a in a season since '86
- Knicks on 8-game winning streak; Now 4 seed
KEY STATS:
40 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 11-21 FG (52%), 6-8 3P https://t.co/IiUmxbFCjj
Related: Players of the Day
Denver Nuggets (106) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (105)
[Highlights] @NUGGETS (-130) d. BLAZERS (+110) 106-105 [POR +1.5 | u230]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
PSO Scouting Report: CB Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) by Ricky Eisenbart
PSO breaks down Patrick Surtain Jr.‘s future outlook and how his game will translate to the next level in the NFL
Patrick Surtain II's NFL Scouting Report:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 21, 2021
Physical Tools: ??
Game Film: A
Production: A
Risk: ??
Overall: ??
FULL evaluation: https://t.co/EenxWYVtH0
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: April 21, 1996
SIGNIFICANCE: Hakeem Olajuwon recorded the most BLK ever, MJ‘s scoring title streak record, & Stockton‘s historic assists
April 21, 1996: Hakeem Olajuwon passed Kareem (3,190) as NBA's all-time BLK leader
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 21, 2021
MJ broke Wilt’s NBA record with 8th straight scoring title (30.4) to cap off 72-win season
John Stockton broke Bob Cousy's NBA record with 9th straight AST title (11.2)
pic.twitter.com/zS74EbODtZ
Related: Significant Sports History
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