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The Best of the Day: February 23rd, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 23, 2021 including Luka's clutch shots vs. BOS, Domontas Sabonis's All-Star snub, and more!
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
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 2/23 here.
Along with the NBA All-Star roster reserves being announced, there were nine games played Tuesday night. The biggest story came from Dallas as Luka Doncic had the late-game performance of a lifetime to help the Mavericks defeat the Celtics. Also, Domantas Sabonis is officially the most underrated player in the league after not being selected to the All-Star team despite his historic production, and the Nets Big 3 are on pace to break records of their own.
Here is the best of the day from February 23, 2021:
Luka Doncic drained 2 clutch go-ahead 3PM’s to down Boston
How’s that for not being clutch? Luka Doncic hit two go-ahead 3-pointers in the final 15.3 seconds to lift the Dallas Mavericks past the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. With Dallas trailing by one, Doncic hit a step back 3 over 6-foot-8 Daniel Theis to put Dallas up 107-105 with 15.3 seconds to go. Then, after a Jaylen Brown layup knotted the game back up for Boston, Doncic proceeded to drill another step back 3, this time over Kemba Walker, with 0.1 seconds left to ice the game.
LUKA IS FILTHY. pic.twitter.com/t4fzUYXstq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 24, 2021
LUKA MAGIC CALLED GAME 🤧 pic.twitter.com/mt9eNlNKQW
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2021
Doncic’s heroics helped the Mavericks avoid a fourth quarter collapse after leading by 12 points with just under four minutes left. He finished the game with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists while hitting a sizzling 6-of-8 from 3, including the two daggers. Doncic was forced to carry more of the load without his All-Star teammate Kristaps Porzingis, who missed his second straight game.
Luka nutmeg. Too crafty! (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/T5vyBUQvHb
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 24, 2021
Much has been made of Doncic’s struggles in clutch time this season. However, nobody can question his mentality when it matters, similar to that of Michael Jordan‘s and the late, great Kobe Bryant‘s. He isn’t afraid of the biggest moments, no matter what the outcome may be. He wants to take the last shot, and, the results this time were two of the biggest shots of his career and a Mavericks victory.
At 21 years old, @luka7doncic already has an IMPRESSIVE clutch shot resume. ❄️
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2021
Luka: Game-winner Tuesday with 0.1 left pic.twitter.com/Wg26S4dtXC
Luka Doncic during the 6-1 stretch that pulled the Mavs up to .500:
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 24, 2021
34.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 8.6 apg, 51.9 FG%, 48.3 3%
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, Luka Doncic is the second player in the last 25 seasons to make multiple go-ahead 3s in the final 20 seconds.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 24, 2021
You'll never guess the other guy.
(It's Dan Dickau.)
Related: Stories of the Day
DOMANTAS SABONIS IS THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER IN THE NBA
Once the NBA revealed the final reserves for the 2021 All-Star game, all the attention immediately went toward which players missed the cut (as always). While there wasn’t an all-time snub this time like Bradley Beal last year, Domantas Sabonis being left off the list was still unprecedented. He’s the first player in NBA history to record 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists to not make the All-Star team.
This isn’t the first time Sabonis has been overlooked and it likely won’t be the last. Playing in a small-market like Indiana has forced Sabonis’ greatness to go under the radar on a national scale but Pacers fans have become well accustomed to his phenomenal performances. Just by looking at the 2020-21 NBA Top Performers, it can be understood how consistently effective the Pacers PF has been this year.
He’s a triple-double threat on a nightly basis as one of the few Bigs in the league who’s a true facilitator from the post, has expanded his game beyond the 3-point line this year, and is one of the best rebounders in the league. The 24-year-old is one of the most well-rounded Big Men in the NBA and has improved his production across the board from last year, yet he didn’t earn a second consecutive All-Star appearance for some reason despite elevating his game.
While it’s easy to point out which players SHOULD’VE made the All-Star Team, many times people leave out who they should’ve made it over. With no position limit in place for the reserves like there is for starters, Sabonis could’ve easily made it over G Ben Simmons or G/F Jaylen Brown, who both lack the resume Sabonis has this season. However, Simmons and Brown play in large markets and get credited for their All-Defense, which is the only subpar aspect of Sabonis’ game.
Considering the Gonzaga product has only been in the league for five years, he has plenty of time to turn the narrative around and become more of a household name. Paul George and Reggie Miller were both able to garner the respect of being a top-tier player in Indiana, a state known for hoops. Sabonis was acquired (with Victor Oladipo) for PG13 a few years ago and has developed into a perennial All-Star caliber player who, along with Devin Booker, can now be considered the most underrated player in the NBA.
Domantas Sabonis is the first player in NBA history to average 20/10/5 and not make the All-Star team.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 24, 2021
(Submitted by @Hoop_statistics) pic.twitter.com/3xFv6zi8QB
Domantas Sabonis is averaging 21.5 PPG and 11.6 RPG this season to go along with 23 double-doubles, which is the 2nd most in the NBA. Out of the top 6 players with the most double-doubles, Sabonis is the only one who was not selected as an All-Star pic.twitter.com/aDMjAhPl3n
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 24, 2021
Domantas Sabonis is snubbed.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 23, 2021
21.5 PPG
11.6 RPG
5.7 APG
53/36/71%
He’s one of only 3 players averaging 20/10/5 on 50% shooting this season (Jokic, Giannis). pic.twitter.com/wYOJYtxme4
Domantas Sabonis vs. Ben Simmons this season:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 24, 2021
- Sabonis: 21.5 PPG - 11.6 RPG - 5.7 APG - 1.0 SPG - 52 FG%
- Simmons: 15.7 PPG - 8.3 RPG - 7.9 APG - 1.7 SPG - 57 FG%
Was Sabonis snubbed? 🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/KyUGVtmFvm
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Luka delivered in the clutch
LUKA IS FILTHY. pic.twitter.com/t4fzUYXstq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 24, 2021
LUKA MAGIC CALLED GAME 🤧 pic.twitter.com/mt9eNlNKQW
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Dallas Mavericks Highlights
SG Luka Doncic, DAL (W v.BOS): 31 PTS (11-23 FG | 6-8 3P), 8 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/23/21) - G Luka Doncic, DAL
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 24, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 2nd player with 2+ go-ahead 3s in final 20 sec since '95
- T-2nd most GP of 30+ PTS & 10+ REB before turning 22
- 2nd fastest to 100 career GP of 20 PTS/5 REB/5 AST
KEY STATS:
31 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 11-23 FG, 6-8 3P https://t.co/cQMyhcih3i
Related: Players of the Day
Boston Celtics (107) vs. Dallas Mavericks (110) [GW-3PM]
[Highlights] @MAVERICKS (+119; $8.49) d. CELTICS (-119; $8.02) 110-107 (GW-3PM) [DAL +2 | u223.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Full NBA Review From February 23, 2021 by Rob Mason
Tuesday night’s NBA action saw close games galore, as six contests finished with single-digit margins of victory, highlighted by Luka’s brilliance at the end vs. Boston
Luka Doncic's clutch shots were very impressive but it wasn't the only thing that NBA fans need to know about Tuesday's action ⬇️ https://t.co/wSf5UR8ezb
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 24, 2021
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