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The Best of the Day: February 2nd, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from February 2, 2021 including BKN's Big 3 holding off LAC, Fred VanVleet's historic night, and more!
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
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 2/2 here.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets squared off in a potential NBA Finals preview Tuesday night. The game came down to the wire as the two teams duked it out for a full 48 minutes. In the end, the surging Nets came out on top 124-120 behind their Big 3’s incredible performance. Also, Toronto’s undrafted star Fred VanVleet had a performance for the ages against Orlando that set numerous records, and PSO takes a look at the most interesting facts from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020 season.
Here is the best of the day from February 2, 2021:
Nets hold off Clippers thanks to huge 4th Qtr from the Big 3
In arguably the biggest game of the season to this point, the Clippers (16-6) visited the Nets (14-9) in a matchup of two top title contenders featuring an unprecedented level of individual talent. Los Angeles’s dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George vs. Brooklyn’s Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. It did not disappoint.
When the final buzzer sounded though, it was Brooklyn who earned an impressive victory, in large part due to a dominant fourth quarter from its star players. Harden, Durant, and Irving combined to score 25 of the team’s final 27 points, including their decisive 13-0 run that put the Nets up for good. The lone basket not from the trio may have been the biggest, though. Clinging to a one-pt lead with 5.5 seconds to go, Jeff Green hit an and-1 on a touchdown pass from Harden to put Brooklyn up 122-119. However, Green missed the free throw, so the Nets elected to foul the rest of the game to prevent the Clippers from attempting a game-tying 3-pointer.
The strategy paid off, as Los Angeles never got off a potential game-tying shot. Irving, who finished with a game-high 39 points, iced the contest by hitting both FTs with 1.9 seconds left. He, along with Harden (23 PTS, 14 AST, 11 REB) and KD (28 PTS, 11-13 FG) were particularly effective in the fourth quarter when attacking Nic Batum (5-5 FG with him as the primary defender), who returned from a one game absence due to injury. Despite the loss, Leonard (33 points) and George (26) still had big nights. That being said, Brooklyn played solid defense when it mattered, an encouraging sign for a team that’s been amongst the worst defenses ever.
Kyrie AGAIN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2021
Catch the finish on @NBAonTNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/vS3KJJ0SRo
James Harden heaves it full-court to Jeff Green to extend the lead!@LAClippers 119@BrooklynNets 122
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2021
2.7 left on TNT. LAC at the line. pic.twitter.com/nTISTWFiRA
Brooklyn Nets have averaged 127.0 PPG since acquiring James Harden, the most team PPG over a 10-game span in NBA history pic.twitter.com/r4BfrUZ5N2
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 3, 2021
James Harden has recorded 217 points and 108 assists in his first nine games with the Nets.
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) February 3, 2021
The only other player in NBA history to record at least 200 points and 100 assists in his first nine games with a new team is Guy Rodgers (1966-67 Bulls). pic.twitter.com/lgEyZIRVF6
Most triple-doubles in NBA history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 3, 2021
1. Oscar Robertson (181)
2. Russell Westbrook (151)
3. Magic Johnson (138)
4. Jason Kidd (107)
5. LeBron James (95)
6. Wilt Chamberlain (78)
7. Larry Bird (59)
8. James Harden (50) https://t.co/Pdzm4huq68
FROM ELIAS: Kevin Durant reached 500 points with the Nets in just 17 games. That is tied for the 2nd-fastest a player has reached 500 points with a team in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain did it faster with the Warriors in 1959-60 (14 games). pic.twitter.com/WpojGnZMic
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 3, 2021
Honorable Mention: Fred VanVleet set UDFA & Raptors record with 54 PTS & Twins re-signed DH Nelson Cruz
Related: Stories of the Day
Fred VanVleet is the greatest undrafted scorer of all-time
For College Basketball fans reading this, some remember the Wichita State runs of the mid-2010s that heavily featured 2x Conference Player of the Year Fred VanVleet. That player NCAA fans witnessed is completely different than the Raptors record-breaker that FVV has become. 60 players heard their name get called in the 2016 NBA Draft, but Fred VanVleet wasn’t one of them.
It hasn’t stopped the Wichita State product from evolving into one of the best offensive players in the game and on the cusp of potentially reaching his first career All-Star Game. VanVleet was a crucial factor in Toronto winning their first championship in franchise history as he stepped up numerous times when the Raptors needed it most, including in the fourth quarter of the series-clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
No matter what happens from here on out, VanVleet will always be a legend in the 6ix for his playoff heroics. However, now he’s starting to cement his legacy as one of the greatest undrafted players of all-time. With his 54 points on Tuesday, he surpassed DeMar DeRozan‘s franchise-record and also set the single-game record for all UDFA’s in NBA history. As he continues to improve and move up the all-time rankings, he’s already worthy of the No.1 spot on greatest undrafted scorers to ever play the game.
Other contenders include Connie Hawkins (1967-76) who’s best two years came in the ABA and John Starks who was an All-Star in the 1990’s. VanVleet only has five years in the NBA under his belt so far, but he’s now averaging over 20 PPG and had a lucrative contract that has him poised to take over as Toronto’s premier playmaker once Kyle Lowry departs or retires. Ben Wallace still deserves to be considered the greatest undrafted player of all-time, but his impact was almost solely on the defensive end. It’s time to consider FVV the greatest undrafted offensive player to ever live.
Unforgettable night for FVV 🙌
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2021
Dropped a career-high and Raptors franchise record 54 PTS. pic.twitter.com/Du80oTgEn9
Fred VanVleet’s historic night:
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) February 3, 2021
▪️Raptors franchise record 54 PTS
▪️Career-high 54 PTS
▪️Career-high 11 threes pic.twitter.com/nSotAWgfgv
Fred VanVleet’s 8 threes in the first half tonight marks the most 3PM in any half of a regular-season game in @Raptors franchise history. He passes Danny Green and Terrence Ross with 7 each. pic.twitter.com/280BsnglEl
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 3, 2021
Fred VanVleet was 🔥 last night:
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) February 3, 2021
✅ 54 PTS (@Raptors record)
✅ 17-23 FG
✅ 11-14 3P
✅ 9-9 FT
✅ 97.8 eFG%
✅ 100.1 TS%
VanVleet's TS% is the highest in NBA history in a 50-point game, and his eFG% ties him with Kyrie Irving for the highest such figure in a 50-point game. pic.twitter.com/uAAZKVMyVM
Fred VanVleet (11-14 3PM) becomes the third player in @NBAHistory to make 11+ threes in a game on 75% shooting or better from beyond the arc, joining Stephen Curry and Zach LaVine. pic.twitter.com/NGgMAujOpw
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 3, 2021
The @Raptors Fred VanVleet (54 PTS) and Kyle Lowry (14 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST) are just the third backcourt duo in NBA history to record a 50-point game and a triple-double in the same game.
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) February 3, 2021
The others are Reggie Miller & Pooh Richardson and James Harden & Russell Westbrook (2x). pic.twitter.com/jJM6nQKIF7
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
VanVleet set a franchise & UDFA record
FVV sets Toronto franchise record 👏@FredVanVleet makes @Raptors history, erupting for 54 POINTS and 11 THREES (11-14 3PM) in the road W! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/QeDEfTkCZf
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Toronto Raptors Highlights
G Fred VanVleet, TOR (W @ORL): 54 PTS (17-23 FG | 11-14 3P), 2 AST, 3 REB, 3 BLK, 3 STL, 1 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (2/2/21) - G Fred VanVleet, TOR
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 3, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 54 PTS set a UDFA & Raptors franchise record
- Only UDFA to own a franchise single-game PTS record
- Most 3PM (11) by UDFA ever; 3rd ever w/ 11 3's on 75%
KEY STATS:
54 PTS, 3 STL, 3 BLK, 17-23 FG (74%), 11-14 3P (79%) https://t.co/8vqQZXKGpb
Related: Players of the Day
Los Angeles Clippers (120) vs. Brooklyn Nets (124)
[Highlights] @NETS (+109; $9.51) d. CLIPPERS (-109; $11.62) 124-120 [BKN +1.5 | o242.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 Most Interesting Facts From 2020 NFL Season by Arslan Ubul
In year one with Tom Brady at the helm, the Bucs are in the Super Bowl and on the cusp of greatness.
- 1st team to play in the Super Bowl in their home city
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) February 3, 2021
- Tom Brady broke an abundance of records
- Mike Evans made history
FULL LIST ⬇️https://t.co/ptLixNC4kh
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