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The Best of the Day: February 17th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 17, 2021 including Fernando Tatis Jr.'s historic contract, WAS not out of it yet, and more!
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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 2/17 here.
The San Diego Padres and young superstar SS Fernando Tatis Jr. agreed to a massive 14y/$340M extension on Wednesday. The deal is the longest in sports history and will keep him in San Diego for most, if not all of his career. Also, despite their ugly start to the season, the Wizards still have a great shot to make the postseason as long as Bradley Beal receives help from his supporting cast after their first three-game winning streak in a while, and Damian Lillard continues to prove why he’s the most clutch player in the game.
Here is the best of the day from February 17, 2021:
San Diego Padres handed SS Fernando Tatis Jr. a historic 14y/$340M extension
The San Diego Padres and superstar SS Fernando Tatis Jr. have come to terms on a historic 14y/$340M extension. The deal is the third largest contract based on total value in MLB history, behind only Mike Trout (12y/$426M with the Angels) and Mookie Betts (12y/$365M with the Dodgers). The 14-year deal is the longest contract in sports history, breaking Giancarlo Stanton‘s 13y/$325M deal in 2015 and Bryce Harper‘s 13y/$330M deal in 2019. The deal will keep Tatis Jr. in a Padres uniform through his age-35 season.
Since being promoted to the majors on opening day in 2019, Tatis Jr. has blossomed into a star. The young slugger is well on his way to being the face of baseball, owning a .301 BA with 39 HRs and 98 RBIs in 143 career games. In 2020, Tatis Jr. won the Silver Slugger and finished fourth in NL MVP voting. Most notably, he helped snap San Diego’s 13-year postseason drought, where they won their wild-card series against the Cardinals before being swept by the rival Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
The deal sets up the Padres to compete with the Dodgers for the foreseeable future, as both clubs are building the two best rosters in baseball. Each has their cornerstones under contract for the next decade and have stockpiled talent around them. Their rivalry should be an exciting one to watch in the years ahead led by the two most electrifying players in baseball in Tatis Jr. and Betts.
Breaking: Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres are in agreement on a 14-year, $340 million contract extension, a source familiar with the deal tells @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/2wfqbBgYcH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2021
San Diego Padres have agreed to a historic 14-year extension with SS Fernando Tatis Jr. as the next face of baseball. Check out his best career highlights so far https://t.co/rHUhAOIClE
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 18, 2021
Fernando Tatis Jr's reported $340M extension is the 3rd-largest contract ever handed out in MLB history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 18, 2021
He is the only player in the Modern Era to record at least 35 HR and 25 SB in their first 150 career games. pic.twitter.com/wZDasvJRys
Largest contracts in MLB history
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 18, 2021
Mike Trout 12 yrs/$426.5 M
Mookie Betts 12 yrs/$365 M
Fernando Tatis Jr. 14 yrs/$340 M
Bryce Harper 13 yrs/$330 M pic.twitter.com/C8qhRn9KUV
Related: Stories of the Day
WIZARDS ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE EAST PLAYOFF RACE
When the Wizards were decimated by COVID and off to the worst record in the NBA, many people counted DC out due to their dismal defense. However, the Wiz are 6-5 over their last 11 games, starting with the near 300-point thriller over Brooklyn. The nation’s capital is playing their best basketball in a while with their first three-game winning streak in over 150 games. They have struggled stringing wins together, but now they boast a victory over Denver, Boston, Miami, and Brooklyn over their last 11 outings.
The Bradley Beal-led squad now sits only three games back from a playoff spot in the East and just two games away from a 10th seed play-in game opportunity. They’ve played the least games in the East so far (9-17) but benefit from a conference that has an 8th seed boasting an impressive 13-15 record.
Despite Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic‘s best efforts to cool down the heating up Wizards, Scott Brooks’ squad is making the right plays when it matters to win games and finally saw Davis Bertans break out of his slump with a career-high 35 points on an efficient 9-11 FG/3PM night. Russell Westbrook chipped in with his seventh triple-double (2nd most in Wizards history) while Rui Hachimura, Alex Len, and Raul Neto were also in double-digits with Neto not missing a single shot (5-5 FG).
This could all end up just being a flash in the pan, but the Wizards have the talent to compete in a weak East with two All-Stars in the backcourt, a rising star in Rui, an elite shooting 6th man, and an offense that’s among the best in the league. If their recent run sparks a buying approach at the trade deadline and WAS can add a premier defender like Myles Turner to their roster, this team could really have a chance to turn a horrendous season into one full of growth, development, and optimism.
COLORS KEY | FULL WIZARDS FUTURE OUTLOOK
Russell Westbrook finished with 12 pts, 13 rebs & 12 ast tonight in a win vs the Nuggets.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 18, 2021
It was his 7th career triple-double with the Wizards in his 19th game with the franchise, which is already tied for 2nd-most in franchise history h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/AWXUG2m6sq
Davis Bertans tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 18, 2021
35 PTS
9-11 FG
9-11 3P
8-8 FT
He is the first player to make 9+ threes off the bench without taking a two-pointer in NBA history.
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Money Murray forces OT
JAMAL MURRAY CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/sSQ07iv8eV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 18, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Denver Nuggets Highlights
PG Damian Lillard, POR (W @NOP): 43 PTS (14-28 FG | 7-16 3P), 16 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/17/21) - PG Damian Lillard, POR
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 18, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Most tying or go-ahead FGM (25) in final 20 sec since '12
- Joins Clyde as only POR w/ 40+ PTS/15+ AST
- 6-game win streak; 3 straight GP w/ 30 pts & 10 ast
KEY STATS:
43 PTS, 16 AST, 14-28 FG (50%), 7-16 3P (44%) https://t.co/QwZh6xxeM0
Related: Players of the Day
Miami Heat (112) vs. Golden State Warriors (120) [OT]
[Highlights] @WARRIORS (-104; $8.66) d. HEAT (+104; $6.79) 120-112 (OT) [GSW -1.5 | o222.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
5 Most Interesting Facts About Tom Brady’s 2020 NFL Season by Arlan Ubul
The GOAT’s first season in Tampa exceeded all expectations, from incredible individual stats to winning yet another Lombardi Trophy that extends some remarkable records
Most interesting Tom Brady facts this season including Super Bowl history, #Buccaneers franchise records, playoff greatness, and more!https://t.co/QzUjy5pAoG
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 17, 2021
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