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The Best of the Day: April 7th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from April 7, 2021 including Phoenix outlasting Utah in an OT thriller, CP3's impact on the Suns, and more!
Matt York/AP Images
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 4/7 here.
The game of the day saw the two teams with the best records in the NBA square off, as the Suns defeated the Jazz in OT thanks to Phoenix’s elite backcourt duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Since arriving to Phoenix from the Thunder this offseason via trade, CP3 has completely transformed this Suns team into a winner, something he has done wherever he goes. Also, Kevin Porter Jr. hit a ridiculous no-look pass, another triple-double from Russell Westbrook lifted Washington past Orlando, and Baker Mayfield is the last man standing among QBs drafted in the top five from 2008-19.
Here is the best of the day from April 7, 2021:
Suns-Jazz OT thriller between West’s top 2 teams
The top two teams in the league went head-to-head Wednesday night in what felt like a playoff-type atmosphere, as the Suns outlasted Utah 117-113 in an overtime thriller. Phoenix was led by Devin Booker, who scored 35 points despite missing all six of his attempts from beyond the arc, while Chris Paul finished with 29 points and nine assists.
No team has been hotter than the Suns as of late, who earned their seventh straight victory and their 10th in their last 11 games. They now own a sterling 36-14 record and find themselves just 1.5 GB of the Jazz atop the conference and league. Thought of as a potential dark horse contender in the West before the season started, Phoenix has completely shattered expectations. The biggest reason for that is Chris Paul, who has stabilized a once directionless franchise, turning the Suns into a respected NBA team.
Chris Paul tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 8, 2021
29 PTS
16 in 4Q/OT
9 AST
12-24 FG
He is averaging the most APG, FG%, FT% since his Clippers days at age 35. pic.twitter.com/PRXmKphjmJ
When Chris Paul goes to a new team, that team gets better.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 8, 2021
Hornets
Before CP — .220 W%
After CP — .463 W%
Clippers
Before CP — .390
After CP — .606
Rockets
Before CP — .671
After CP — .793
Thunder
Before CP — .598
After CP — .611
Suns
Before CP — .466
After CP — .720 pic.twitter.com/T14age0A6Y
The Jazz were led by Donovan Mitchell, who’s clutch game-tying 3 with 10.8 seconds left sent the game to overtime. Mitchell finished with a game-high 41 points, but it wasn’t enough, as Utah dropped it’s second straight game, falling to 38-13 on the season. With the scorching-hot Suns drawing closer to the top spot, the Jazz will need to put an end to their mini skid if they want to secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and push toward their first Championship in franchise history.
SPIDA FOR 3 TO TIE THINGS UP!@utahjazz 102@Suns 102
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2021
10.4 left, Suns ball on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TH6iftQdi5
Related: Stories of the Day
CHRIS PAUL IS THE REAL MVP OF THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Phoenix Suns matched up against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in a matchup of the top teams in the Western Conference, and the game lived up to the hype. Phoenix outlasted Utah 117-113 in overtime. Devin Booker led the team with 35 points, but it was Chris Paul who really shined once again when they needed him.
Chris Paul tallied 29 points and nine assists on 12-24 shooting and 3-7 from beyond the arc. It took Booker seven more shots and eight more free throws to score just six more points than Paul did. Additionally, Paul had the highest +/- on the team at +17, while Booker was seventh on the team in this category at +0. More importantly, it was CP3 who was consistently draining shots down the stretch and put the game away with two clutch free throws in OT while Booker’s sole missed FTA on the night gave Utah life.
This goes to show that although Booker scores more points throughout the game, Paul is the true catalyst of this Phoenix squad. The 35-year-old turned a team that hadn’t made the playoffs for an entire decade into a top-2 seed in the loaded Western Conference. This is a roster that hasn’t seen major improvements in recent years, but with the addition of Chris Paul, is now a force to be reckoned with. The leadership, IQ, and clutch play Paul has brought to this squad is the reason he is Phoenix’s real MVP.
COLORS KEY | FULL SUNS OUTLOOK
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
No-look 180 dime from KPJ
This Kevin Porter Jr. DIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/euoqGpR6xX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (W @ORL): 23 PTS (8-11 FG | 3-3 3P), 15 AST, 14 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 5 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (4/7/21): PG Russell Westbrook, WAS
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 8, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 15 triple-doubles away from tying Big O's career record
- Most triple-doubles (20) in the NBA this season
- 2nd most seasons (4) with 20+ triple-doubles
KEY STATS:
23 PTS, 15 AST, 14 REB, 8-11 FG (73%), 3-3 3P https://t.co/duXuYcHGY3
Related: Players of the Day
Phoenix Suns (117) vs. Utah Jazz (113) [OT]
[Highlights] @SUNS (+115) d. JAZZ (-135) 117-113 (OT) [PHX +2 | o227]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
PSO Scouting Report: LB Zaven Collins (Tulsa) by Ricky Eisenbart
PSO breaks down Zaven Collins’ future outlook in the NFL and how his game will translate to the next level
Zaven Collins NFL Scouting Report:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 7, 2021
Physical Tools: A
Game Film: ??
Production: A-
Risk: ??
Overall: ??
FULL evaluation:https://t.co/VXajc4geLR
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: April 7, 2010
SIGNIFICANCE: HC Don Nelson surpassed Lenny Wilkens (1,333 wins) as the NBA’s all-time winningest coach
April 7, 2010: Golden State Warriors HC Don Nelson won his 1,333rd game, passing Lenny Wilkens as the all-time winningest HC in NBA History. He remains the all-time leader in HC wins with 1,335 https://t.co/G8MYLm0XiX
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 7, 2021
Related: Significant Sports History
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