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The Best of the Day: January 12th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from January 12, 2021 including LBJ's no-look 3PT, Joel Embiid's huge night to lift PHI over MIA, and more!
USA Today Sports
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 1/12 here.
Even with one game postponed due to COVID-19, Tuesday night was still full of NBA action as 12 teams took to the hardwood as the reigning champs kept rolling with LeBron’s no-look 3-pointer being the highlight of their blowout win over the Rockets. The best game of the night took place between Jimmy Butler’s two most recent teams even though he was inactive (Covid protocols) as the Heat and 76ers battled it out in the city of Philadelphia. Joel Embiid’s huge night and game-tying shot to force OT helped propel Philly to the win over their Eastern Conference foe and cemented himself into the MVP conversation.
Here is the best of the day from January 12, 2021:
LeBron hits Steph Curry-esque no-look 3PM from the corner in Houston
The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their second blowout win in Houston over the Rockets in three nights. LeBron James was the best player on the floor, finishing with 26 PTS, 8 REB, and 5 AST, hitting 10-of-20 shots and 4-of-9 3PT attempts. His best play of the game came in the second quarter with LA already up big. LeBron hit a no-look corner three reminiscent of Steph Curry, that put the Lakers up by 24 and silenced any thought of a Rockets comeback.
👀 Watch @KingJames!
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2021
📺: NBA TV pic.twitter.com/Kd0gbKV2n8
So much for a potential slow start to the season for the Lakers with roster turnover and the shortest offseason in American professional sports history. Los Angeles has the best record in the NBA at 9-3 and LeBron has seemingly picked up where he left off last season when he lifted his fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy. He has yet to take a night off and is averaging 24.2 PTS, 8.3 REB, and 7.5 AST in just 32.3 minutes a night, the lowest total of his HOF career. LA was already the title favorites entering the season, but if LeBron and the Lakers continue making it look this easy, the championship is theirs to lose.
LBJ & AD power @Lakers to NBA-best 9-3! #LakeShow @KingJames: 26 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST@AntDavis23: 19 PTS, 10 REB, 5 BLK, 7-8 FGM pic.twitter.com/DIbSKgbqiP
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2021
LeBron James' after his 36th birthday:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 12, 2021
24.7 PPG
8.7 RPG
8.4 APG
49% FG
Lakers 6-1
Don’t normalize greatness 👑
(h/t @LakersDailyCom ) pic.twitter.com/4QCEEtJhGP
Related: Stories of the Day
Joel Embiid has officially entered the MVP conversation
Joel Embiid has racked up many accolades early in his NBA career. The 26-year-old is a 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA 2nd-Teamer, 2x All-NBA Defensive 2nd-Teamer, and was on the All-Rookie 1st Team in 2017. After missing his first two seasons with a foot injury, the 7-footer has lived up to everything and more as the key ingredient of “The Process,” yet in his fifth NBA season, he’s taken yet another jump.
Joel Embiid has officially entered his name as a candidate for the MVP Award, averaging over 26 points and 12 rebounds per game as he leads the team with the most wins in the East. He’s recording career-highs in field goal, three-point, and free-throw percentages, and has been a force on both ends of the floor for the 8-4 Covid-riddled Sixers. Despite Simmons fouling out in regulation on Tuesday, and the Sixers only having eight available guys to begin with, Embiid put the team on his back, sending the game to OT with a 21-foot pull-up jumper with 3.3 seconds left, and scoring 11 of the team’s 17 points in the extra period to beat the Heat.
On Tuesday, Embiid became the first player since 1983-84 with at least 45 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and five steals in a game. Embiid is by far the best player on the current top team in the Eastern Conference, and the 26-year-old is solidifying himself as one of the best players in the entire league. Embiid’s best finish in the MVP race has been 7th. Considering his massive impact on both ends of the floor so far, that’s destined to change this year.
JOEL EMBIID. ICE COLD.@sixers 120@MiamiHEAT 120
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2021
3.3 left on NBA LP: https://t.co/Laecx0GSYx pic.twitter.com/MIyQaNIkXu
Joel Embiid tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 13, 2021
45 PTS
16 REB
5 STL
16-23 FG
He’s the first Sixer with a 45p/15r/5s game in the last 35 seasons. pic.twitter.com/5r7YYSs0kS
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
The King took a page out of Curry’s book with this one.
👀 Watch @KingJames!
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2021
📺: NBA TV pic.twitter.com/Kd0gbKV2n8
Related: NBA Highlights | Los Angeles Lakers Highlights
C Joel Embiid, PHI (W v. MIA [OT]): 45 PTS (16-23 FG | 0-3 3P), 4 AST, 16 REB, 1 BLK, 5 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (1/12/21) - C Joel Embiid, PHI
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 13, 2021
THE FACTS:
- Drained game-tying FGM w/ 3.3 sec left to force OT
- 1st 76ers player with 45 PT/15 REB/5 STL since 1974
- 2nd player w/ 40+ PTS, 15+ REB, & 5 STL in 76ers history
- Scored 11 of season-high 46 PTS in OT to beat Heat https://t.co/rlWxZ6qXSy
Related: Players of the Day
Miami Heat (134) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (137) [OT]
[Highlights] @76ERS (-321; $9.57) d. HEAT (+321; $9.25) 137-134 (OT) [MIA +9 | o212.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 Most Interesting Facts From 2020 NFL Season by Arslan Ubul
It was a disappointing finish to the season for the Steelers after a hot start, but there were still some bright spots for the black and gold in 2020
Pittsburgh's season ended in a disappointing manner, but this year saw many broken records and history being made ⬇️ https://t.co/OEFyT3A9Sv
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 14, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
FULL ARTICLE: Most Significant Sports History on January 12th
YEAR: 1969 & 1975
SIGNIFICANCE: New York Jets AND Pittsburgh Steelers each won their 1st Super Bowls
Related: Significant Sports History
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