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The Best of the Day: February 28th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 28, 2021 including Giannis dominating in the 4Q vs. LAC, CHA's success in the draft, 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 2/28 here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put together a dominant fourth quarter for the Milwaukee Bucks to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard struggled down the stretch. Also, the Hornets have put together a young and talented core with Michael Jordan and Mitch Kupchak leading the way. The Wizards and Celtics played another instant classic as Jayson Tatum’s heroics lifted his team past St. Louis foe Bradley Beal and Buddy Hield broke one of Steph’s 3pt records.
Here is the best of the day from February 28, 2021:
Giannis dominated down the stretch as Clippers choked in the 4th
The Milwaukee Bucks rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to some stifling defense and their superstar’s dominant performance to close out the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17 of the his team’s final 22 points to turn a 90-83 deficit into a 105-100 Bucks win. The reigning back-to-back MVP outscored the entire Clippers team 17-10 in the final 8:30.
GIANNIS COMES UP HUGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nc1PLQe3Kq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2021
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were Los Angeles’s top scorers, but couldn’t get it done with the game on the line. The two superstars took every shot for the Clippers down stretch, but combined to go 0-for-8 in the final 3:30. George finished with 16 points on an inefficient 7-of-21 shooting while Leonard led the way with 25. The Clippers continued their inconsistent stretch of basketball, having followed up each of their last four wins with a loss.
Sheesh, Kawhi 😤 pic.twitter.com/LfgFf3k05J
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2021
Antetokounmpo made a huge impact on both ends of the floor, finishing with 36 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and one steal. It was his fourth straight game with 35-plus points, becoming the first Bucks player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1973.
Khris Middleton finished with 19 points and eight assists while Jrue Holiday returned after missing 10 games due to health and safety protocols, scoring two points in 18 minutes as he tried to shake off the rust. With five straight wins, the Bucks sit at third place in the East, just a game back of the No.1 seeded 76ers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only player to average 30+ PPG/12+ RPG/6+ APG during a calendar month (min 5 GP) since the ABA-NBA merger and has now done it 2x in his career https://t.co/ONft1IflEr
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 28, 2021
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s last 5 games:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 28, 2021
36 PTS - 14 REB - 5 AST (W)
38 PTS - 10 REB - 4 AST (W)
37 PTS - 8 REB - 8 AST (W)
38 PTS - 18 REB - 4 AST (W)
29 PTS - 19 REB - 8 AST (W)
Put this man in the MVP race 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UFXmp5E9j8
Giannis scored 36 points, 4th-straight game with at least 35. He's the first Bucks player to have a streak that long since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1973) per @ESPNStatsInfo. Clippers led 90-83 before Giannis outscored entire Clippers team, 17-10, in the final 8:30.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 28, 2021
Related: Stories of the Day
MICHAEL JORDAN’S HORNETS HAVE BECOME THE BEST DRAFTING TEAM IN THE NBA
Michael Jordan‘s ownership tenure with the Hornets has been described as disappointing and underachieving. Once the most dominant player in basketball history, MJ’s post-playing days have been defined by losing in his home state of North Carolina. However, that all seems on the cusp of changing, and a big reason for that is the addition of GM Mitch Kupchak.
After an unsuccessful ending to a legendary run in Los Angeles (5x NBA Champion), the Hornets were able to finally add a proven General Manager to make the basketball decisions and add more championship-DNA to the front office. While his big decisions in LA hadn’t turned the corner yet at the time, Kupchak actually ended his Lakers tenure on a tear.
In 2014, he selected PF Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick (who’s now the second-best player taken in that first round behind only Joel Embiid). Then in 2015, he drafted D’Angelo Russell second overall and stole Larry Nance Jr. with the 27th pick. And to cap it off, he picked Brandon Ingram at second overall in 2016 and then snagged Ivica Zubac during the second round. Five picks in his final three years… five hits.
Kupchak then brought that same drafting expertise with him to Charlotte as he has turned the worst drafting franchise into the best, almost as if he has the Midas touch. He started in 2018 by taking Miles Bridges at 12th overall over the likes of Jerome Robinson, Troy Brown, and Zhaire Smith. While that’s a solid start, no selection in that draft was more impressive than Charlotte’s 34th overall pick of Devonte’ Graham, the only second-round pick that has averaged double-digit points per game.
As an encore, Kupchak took PJ Washington 12th overall with Chuma Okeke, Sekou Doumboiuya, Romeo Langford, and Tyler Herro as the next player’s on the board. Washington’s 42 points are what helped lift Charlotte to a shocking win over Sacramento on Sunday night and he’s become a quality starting player already. Then, his most famous move came four months ago with the addition of LaMelo Ball to be the new face of the franchise after sign-and-trading Kemba Walker away the year prior for Terry Rozier.
Rozier, Graham, Bridges, Washington, and Ball are all 26 years old or younger. Add in a 23-year-old Malik Monk who was inherited by Mitch, and the Hornets have one of the best young cores in the NBA and they’re currently just 1 GB of home-court advantage in the crowded Eastern Conference this season.
As much credit as Mitch Kupchak deserves for turning this Hornets franchise around, Michael Jordan still has the final say on all personnel decisions and has certainly helped construct Charlotte’s promising young roster. The two of them have turned this organization around and deserve to be recognized as the current Kings of drafting in the NBA thanks to their recent three-year track record of success as the only team with FOUR starting-caliber players drafted over the last three years.
COLORS KEY | FULL HORNETS FUTURE OUTLOOK
ANNNDDDDDDD 1 🗣 MALIK MONK COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH! (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/XT3uE5j1eW
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 1, 2021
PJ WASHINGTON 42 points and the clutch 3 to get the Hornets within 1 with 17 seconds left 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/IzoQw4c0lu
— Ashley Nevel (@AshleyNevel) March 1, 2021
PJ Washington tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 1, 2021
42 PTS
9 REB
15-23 FG
5-8 3P
At 22 years old, he’s the youngest Hornets player with 40+ points in a game in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/Vn0Pq1VXjP
This was just an insane way to lose a game https://t.co/DEr71buM4t
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 1, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Stay out of the Greek Freak’s way
GIANNIS COMES UP HUGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nc1PLQe3Kq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Milwaukee Bucks Highlights
PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (W v.LAC): 36 PTS (15-27 FG | 2-7 3P), 5 AST, 14 REB, 4 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/28/21) - Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 1, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Only player w/ 30 PPG/12 RPG/6 APG during a month
- Moved to 4th most PTS in Bucks franchise history
- Outscored LAC 17-10 in final 8:30; 17 of MIL final 22 pts
KEY STATS
36 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST, 4 BLK, 15-27 FG https://t.co/BOlT7GVUck
Related: Players of the Day
Washington Wizards (110) vs. Boston Celtics (111) [GW-FG]
[Highlights] @CELTICS (-226; $8.08) d. WIZARDS (+226; $10.09) 111-110 (GW-FG) [WSH +6.5 | u232.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
FULL NBA Review From February 28, 2021 by Rob Mason
Black History Month was capped off by Giannis dominating down the stretch, Tatum stepping up in clutch time, and the Hornets gutsy performance despite missing several starters
An epic day in the NBA saw Giannis and the Bucks make a statement in primetime, Tatum step up as the hero for Boston, Buddy Hield break Steph's 3PM record, plus the best highlight of the night! https://t.co/uIH48rBKGo
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 1, 2021
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