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The Best of the Day: February 16th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 16, 2021 including Harden's GW-3P, Dame being the clutchest player in the NBA, and more!
Yahoo! 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 2/16 here.
Tuesday night’s NBA action saw two of the NBA’s biggest stars come up clutch for their respective teams. James Harden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to lift the KD and Kyrie-less Nets over the Suns as Harden continues to play at an historic level since joining Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard iced the game for the Blazers against the Thunder, further proving that he is the most clutch player in the league.
Here is the best of the day from February 16, 2021:
James Harden came in the clutch to lead the Nets’ biggest 2nd half comeback ever
With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the sidelines, James Harden took over to lead an epic Nets comeback over the Phoenix Suns. Trailing by as many as 24 points, Brooklyn didn’t take their first lead until there was under 30 seconds remaining on Harden’s go-ahead 3-pointer that put the Nets up 126-124.
The Suns next possession saw Brooklyn make the final stop on Devin Booker’s attempt to tie the game on a post-up shot against Landry Shamet that rimmed out. Harden’s two points from the charity stripe then sealed the 128-124 comeback win.
James Harden came through in the clutch with the game-winning 3PM to bring the Nets back from a franchise-record 21-pt halftime deficit.
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 17, 2021
No KD. No Kyrie. No problem https://t.co/vheB3LGS3q
The @BrooklynNets trailed by 21 at halftime tonight before rallying to win.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 17, 2021
That's the largest halftime deficit overcome to win in franchise history.
Harden finished the contest with 38 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds while hitting five 3-pointers, including the game-winner. With his latest performance, The Beard earned his fifth PSO Player of the Day award since joining Brooklyn, the most of any player in 2021. All that despite having to acclimate to an entire new team, role, and city.
Harden has been on another level since joining the Nets. In 16 GP with his new team, Harden has never been facilitating better (NBA-leading and career-high 11.8 APG) or a more efficient shooter (50.2 FG%, 40.7 3P%, and 60.0 eFG% all career-highs). Averaging nearly a triple-double at 24.3 PPG, 11.8 APG, and 8.4 RPG, Harden has arguably been Brooklyn’s best player and is the engine that makes the historically great Nets offense go, with or without his other two superstar teammates, as proven on Tuesday.
James Harden tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2021
38 PTS
11 AST
6 REB
5 3PT
14-22 FG
He is the second Nets player to put up 35/5/10 and 5+ threes in franchise history (Vince Carter in 2007). pic.twitter.com/qYJr2sJrVJ
Related: Stories of the Day
DAMIAN LILLARD IS THE MOST CLUTCH PLAYER IN THE NBA
Anybody that was watching the Portland Trail Blazers-Oklahoma City Thunder game on Tuesday night knew what was coming. Portland held a double-digit lead until the Thunder stormed back in the fourth quarter. Yet, what happened next has been seen TIME and TIME again. DAME TIME that is.
Damian Lillard only had 19 points at the time Portland was trailing by five points and was in need of a spark before he exploded for 12 points in the final 4:10 to carry the Blazers to victory and keep their now 5-game winning streak alive. OKC is very familiar with the legend of Lillard in the clutch as they were iconically eliminated after he drained a deeeeep game-winner in Game 5 of their playoff series and waved them goodbye.
Lillard was less animated this time around during a regular-season game against one of the worst teams in the league, but OKC quietly has one of the best defensive units in the NBA. Equipped with Lu Dort, Hamidou Diallo, George Hill, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have a plethora of defensively-gifted Guards but none could stop the inevitable.
Portland’s superstar has made a career of coming through in the clutch. Earlier this season, he memorably drained two huge 3PMs in the final seconds to beat Chicago including his third career buzzer beater, the most in Blazers franchise history. Just last game, he stepped up again when he buried the Mavs with a final-minute step-back Johnson.
He leads the NBA in an abundance of clutch stats, raising his FG% to an astounding 58.1% when the games matter most. There is not a player in the league that is more consistent or effective during the most important possessions of a game than Damian Lillard, and that’s what makes the Blazers as dangerous as any team in the league.
COLORS KEY | FULL BLAZERS FUTURE OUTLOOK
DAME TIME. pic.twitter.com/zM3wsUtC6a
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2021
Damian Lillard is the most clutch player in the NBA https://t.co/jCh20nrih6
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 17, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Harden came in the clutch
The Beard sealed the 24-point comeback 💥 pic.twitter.com/ZewhNcz2Wz
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 17, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Brooklyn Nets Highlights
SG James Harden, BKN (W @PHX): 38 PTS (14-22 FG | 5-11 3P), 11 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 2 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/16/21) - PG James Harden, BRK
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 17, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Largest 2nd half comeback win (21pts) in Nets history
- 2nd Net ever with 35+ PTS/5+ REB/10+ AST/5+ 3PM
- KD/Kyrie both out; Nets still beat CP3/Book's Suns
KEY STATS:
38 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB, 2 TOV, 14-22 FG, 5-11 3P https://t.co/DBSFxLZKU1
Related: Players of the Day
Brooklyn Nets (128) [GW-3PM] vs. Phoenix Suns (124)
[Highlights] NETS (+243; $9.57) d. @SUNS (-243; $13.37) 128-124 (GW-3PM) [BKN +8 | o226.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Ranking the Prime Destinations for 6x All-Star PF Blake Griffin by Rob Mason
Check out PSO’s rankings of Blake Griffin’s prime destinations along with the chance to make your own rankings
Boston, Dallas, or somewhere else? Create your own rankings of Blake Griffin's prime destinations! https://t.co/7rcyCw1Nn2
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 16, 2021
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