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The Best of the Day: February 19th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 19, 2021 including Embiid's and Murray's 50-point games, the dunk of the year, and more!
MATT SLOCUM / 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 2/19 here.
Friday night’s NBA action saw two stars have huge performances while leading their teams to victories as Joel Embiid and Jamal Murray each set career-highs with 50 points. Embiid’s performance continues his MVP form for the 76ers while Murray’s showing was the most efficient ever. Also, the Clippers snapped the Jazz’s 9-game win streak, Anthony Edwards hammered home the dunk of the year so far, and PSO explores some of the most interesting facts about the baseball phenom Fernando Tatis Jr.
Here is the best of the day from February 19, 2021:
Joel Embiid and Jamal Murray each dropped a career-high 50 points
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Denver’s Jamal Murray were simply unstoppable Friday night. Embiid’s monster 50-point, 17-rebound double-double propelled the 76ers past the Bulls while Murray’s 50-point outing came on an absurd 21-for-25 from the floor and 8-of-10 from 3, helping the Nuggets dispatch the Cavaliers.
Jamal Murray (21/25 FG, 50 pts) and Joel Embiid (17/26 FG, career-high 50 pts) both scored "half a hundred" tonight.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 20, 2021
They are the first NBA pair with 50+ points on 65%+ shooting on the same day since the Suns' Tom Chambers and the Knicks' Patrick Ewing on 3/24/1990.
With his 76ers in first place in the East, Embiid has played himself into the MVP conversation, if not the favorite to take home the honor. He is averaging 30.5 PTS and 11.0 REB per contest with an efficient 54.7 FG% and a ridiculous 40.0 3P%. If he keeps up this level of production and Philadelphia keeps winning, Embiid very well could be the first center to win the MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal did so in 2000.
Joel Embiid tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 20, 2021
50 PTS (career-high)
17 REB
5 AST
2 STL
4 BLK
He is the first Sixer with a 50/15/5 game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. pic.twitter.com/mUn4TK52Ix
Meanwhile, Murray’s performance set NBA records for the highest eFG% (100.0) in a 50-point game and the first 50-point game with no free throw attempts. He also set the Nuggets franchise record for most career 50-point games (3). While that production isn’t sustainable, the young and talented Nuggets will need a consistent level of play from Murray if they are to unleash their full potential and make a deep run in the stacked Western Conference.
Jamal Murray was 🔥 tonight:
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) February 20, 2021
✅ 50 PTS
✅ 6 REB
✅ 21-25 FG
✅ 8-10 3P
✅ 0-0 FT
His 100.0 eFG% is the highest in NBA history in a 50-point game.
He is also the first player in NBA history to record a 50-point game without making a free throw. pic.twitter.com/ln2KAF33eH
Including the playoffs, Jamal Murray has 3 career 50-point games, the most in Nuggets history (must include playoffs for this note).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 20, 2021
Murray joins Bradley Beal (Jan. 6) as the only players with 20 points in the paint and 20 points from three-point range in a game this season. pic.twitter.com/fm8eFrfuUf
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are the 3rd pair of teammates age 25 or younger to each score 50 points in a game in the same season in NBA history
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 20, 2021
They joined Jerry West and Rudy LaRusso in 1961-62 with the Lakers and Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn in 1994-95 with the Mavericks pic.twitter.com/LdMoBkw1HE
The Nuggets had multiple players score 20+ points in a 1st half (Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray) for the first time since December 8, 2006 against the Heat.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 20, 2021
Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith did it that day. pic.twitter.com/STo5pOqdwt
Related: Stories of the Day
Edwards with a Dunk of the Year
EVERY ANGLE of @theantedwards_ unreal slam. 📸 pic.twitter.com/t4iSuHjQf2
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Minnesota Timberwolves Highlights
PG Jamal Murray, DEN (W @CLE): 50 PTS (21-25 FG | 8-10 3P), 2 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/19/21) - PG Jamal Murray, DEN
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 20, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 100.0 eFG% is the highest in a 50-PT GP in NBA history
- 1st to record a 50-PT GP without 1 FTM in NBA history
- Most 50-PT GP (3) in Nuggets franchise history
KEY STATS:
50 PTS, 6 REB, 21-25 FG (84%), 8-10 3P (80%) https://t.co/coOUWtWIrk
Related: Players of the Day
Utah Jazz (112) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (116)
[Highlights] @CLIPPERS (+103; $10.90) d. JAZZ (-103; $14.30) 116-112 [LAC -1 | p228]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
5 Most Interesting Facts About Fernando Tatis Jr. by Arslan Ubul
El Nino has had an incredible start to his young MLB career and is well on his way to being the face of baseball
The new face of Baseball is one of the most interesting players on the planet https://t.co/Bo6LAntf77
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 19, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
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