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The Best of the Day: January 21st, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from January 21, 2021 including LeBron out-dueling Giannis, Donovan Mitchell's huge night, 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 1/21 here.
The NBA’s top two players squared off Thursday night as LeBron James out-dueled Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Lakers’ 113-106 victory over the Bucks. LeBron had one of his best games of the early season as Los Angeles continued it’s hot streak on the road. A lack of home-court advantage due to no fans in attendance has proven to be a significant trend around the NBA this season. Also, Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz defeated the Pelicans, as he and his team made history in the process.
Here is the best of the day from January 21, 2021:
LeBron out-dueled Giannis in a potential NBA Finals preview
The West-leading Lakers (12-4) extended their franchise record with an eighth straight road win to open the season after defeating the Bucks 113-106. LeBron James out-performed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a battle between two of the NBA’s top title contenders. LeBron had the hot hand all night, draining 6-of-10 3PA, including a few long-range bombs, on his way to a season-high 34 PTS along with 8 AST and 6 REB. James appears to have turned his one weakness throughout his career – shooting – into a strength. Through 16 games, he is shooting 39.6% on 3PA’s, his second-highest mark ever, on a career-high 6.6 3PA per game.
LEBRON! TOO CLUTCH! 👀👌 pic.twitter.com/T4FEFNB6Nz
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 22, 2021
Consecutive games with 15 Pts, 5 Reb, & 5 Ast to start a season:
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) January 22, 2021
LeBron James (2011) - 22 Games
Oscar Robertson (1961) - 17 Games
Oscar Robertson (1962) - 16 Games
LeBron James (This Season) - 16 Games#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/8iE4ZecWuw
🏀 FINAL SCORE THREAD 🏀
— NBA (@NBA) January 22, 2021
The @Lakers improve to 8-0 on the road behind LeBron James' season-high 34 PTS (6 3PM), 8 AST!
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 23 PTS, 7 3PM
Anthony Davis: 18 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST pic.twitter.com/lUxytgw6ro
Giannis put up 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting to go along with 12 boards and three assists. However, his jump shot continues to be inconsistent. He was 1-for-3 from deep, 2-for-4 from the charity stripe, and missed badly on a few jump shots. For the season, he is hitting just 30.9% of his 3’s and 58.3% of his FT attempts. Of more concern, though, is the Bucks (9-6) inability to beat top contenders. They now fall to 0-4 against the Celtics, Nets, Jazz, and Lakers. Their bench, outscored 31-16 by the Lakers bench, must improve if Milwaukee is to secure the top seed in the much-improved Eastern Conference for a third-straight season.
Giannis DENIED it! 😤 pic.twitter.com/xLMcIZpGLi
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 22, 2021
Related: Stories of the Day
Home-Court advantage is officially proven to be as insignificant as it’s ever been
As the coronavirus has continued to alter the NBA this season, one difference has seemed to stand out above the rest. With limited fans in attendance in some places and zero permitted in others, home-court advantage has become almost meaningless. Home teams this season are a mediocre 108-104, equaling a winning percentage of just 50.9%. In previous seasons, home teams have enjoyed a winning percentage of around 56-58%.
This year’s Lakers squad is a prime example of the insignificance that now comes with playing on a home-court. The Purple and Gold are off to a franchise-best 8-0 start on the road this season, including their tough seven-point victory in Milwaukee on Thursday. The Bucks were an NBA-best 39-10 at home two seasons ago, and 28-3 at the Fiserv Forum last year prior to the shift to the bubble. While the Lakers have been dominant away from home, they’re just a pedestrian 4-4 at the Staples Center this season.
While home-court advantage has been a huge factor in the NBA, especially in the playoffs, the lack of fans has basically made it a non-factor. While home-teams in the playoffs have seen a win percentage of around 64% in the NBA, the top seeds in each conference may not be as coveted this season. There are pros and cons with these ripple effects, like the fact that teams might not prioritize regular-season wins as much down the stretch, and prefer to rest their marquee players before a playoff push. At the same time, a team decimated by COVID during the season that subsequently falls down the seedings won’t be in as bad of shape.
The Lakers continue their franchise-best start on the road, 8-0 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PyeZ74DcxX
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 22, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Mitchell puts the moves on the Pelicans
Spida snatching ankles 🤭🕷 pic.twitter.com/dQgcie68Tw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 22, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights | Utah Jazz Highlights
SG Donovan Mitchell, UTA (W v.NOP): 36 PTS (11-19 FG | 6-8 3P), 5 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (1/21/21) - G Donovan Mitchell, UTA
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 22, 2021
THE FACTS:
- Fastest player ever to make 600 3PM (240 GP)
- Has 7/8 games in Jazz history of 35pts/5reb/5ast/5 3's
- Jazz have most 3PM (248) through 1st 15 GP ever
- UTA has most 3PM (133) ever during a 7game win streak https://t.co/y0RnIL3JU5
Related: Players of the Day
Los Angeles Lakers (113) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (106)
[Highlights] LAKERS (+114; $10.98) d. @BUCKS (-114; $10.08) 113-106 [LAL +2 | u228.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
New Orleans Saints 5 Most Interesting Facts From 2020 NFL Season by Arslan Ubul
NO had another incredible regular-season but fell just short again in the playoffs in what was likely HOF QB Drew Brees’s final season
Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, and the Saints came up short once again, but they still managed to set records and make plenty of NFL history before their season was ended early ⬇️ https://t.co/KymvHPPu3r
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 22, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
FULL ARTICLE: Most Significant Sports History on January 21st
On this day in 1995 John Stockton became the NBA's all-time career assists leader when he reached 9,922. pic.twitter.com/A72MCwDesm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2015
YEAR: 1995
SIGNIFICANCE: John Stockton became the NBA’s all-time leader in assists (9,922)
Related: Significant Sports History
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