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The Best of the Day: June 3rd, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from June 3, 2021, including Devin Booker's incredible performance, Nikola Jokic's 38-point game, 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 6/3 here.
Devin Booker‘s phenomenal Game 6 performance put the league on notice of what the Suns are capable of as they defeated Lebron James and the defending champion Lakers in 6 games. This was Lebron’s first series loss in the first round of the playoffs (14-1).
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 28 points and broke the record for most 3PM in a series with 35. However, Portland still fell to Denver in an elimination game where they blew a near 20-point lead. June 3 marks the 29th anniversary of Michael Jordan‘s shrug game, where he scored 35 points in the first half of Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals against Portland.
Here is the best of the day from June 3, 2021:
Devin Booker’s incredible Game 6 led Suns to eliminating the reigning champs
After missing Game 5, Anthony Davis returned to the starting lineup, but not for long. He left the game due to injury after playing just five minutes, and the Suns capitalized on the opportunity. A dominant first quarter put them up 22 points after just 12 minutes of game time. Phoenix rode Devin Booker’s 47 points (including 8-10 3P), and their hot start to a 4-2 series victory. They will face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. This marked the franchise’s first appearance in the second round since 2010, and also became LeBron James’ only first-round series loss (14-0 previously).
What a game for Booker ♨️
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 4, 2021
47 PTS, 11 REB, 8 3PM. pic.twitter.com/cl0CrVOSpG
Devin Booker tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 4, 2021
47 PTS (playoff career-high)
11 REB
8 3PT
15-22 FG
He is the first Suns player with a 40/10 playoff game since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2010. He is the first ever to do it with 5+ threes. pic.twitter.com/81kKQWWoNT
Devin Booker is the FIRST Suns player to make 6+ 3-pointers in a quarter in playoff history.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) June 4, 2021
He dropped 22 points in the 1Q against the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/SqLItt4gOE
The Lakers are the fifth defending champion to lose to a team that did NOT make the playoffs the previous season and the first since the 1978 Trail Blazers lost to the Seattle SuperSonics.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 4, 2021
H/T @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/hFX8sRIhMk
LeBron James is the only player in NBA history to rank in the top 10 for all-time playoff points (1st), rebounds (6th), assists (2nd), steals (1st) and blocks (10th). pic.twitter.com/S1fktDbbH7
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 4, 2021
Related: Stories of the Day
DAMIAN LILLARD NEEDS A NEW COACH TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP
The season came to a close for Portland on Thursday after a home loss to a Denver team without star point guard Jamal Murray or starting SG Will Barton. Damian Lillard had a team-high 28 points to build on his impressive series while Nikola Jokic did the same with 38. The Blazers’ first-round exit marks the fourth time they’ve done this in the last five seasons. It is clear something needs to change and looking at finding a new coach should be the front office’s first focus.
A team with Damian Lillard, the most clutch player in the NBA right now, paired with CJ McCollum should be making more consistent deep runs in the postseason. Portland was set up nicely with a favorable first-round matchup against what is considered to be one of the weakest teams in the West due to Jamal Murray’s season-ending injury.
Along with this, Dame has been playing some of his best basketball ever, but they failed to win a single playoff series yet again (4 of their last 5 seasons). Portland had a near 20-point lead in the 3rd quarter that was blown after not calling a single timeout during Denver’s 3rd quarter run, failing to challenge a crucial 3-shot foul call and no use of Enes Kanter that exposed them on the boards. It was just another sign that in order for Lillard to avoid going home early every year, the Blazers need to make a change at the head coach position.
COLORS KEY | FULL BLAZERS OUTLOOK
Dame beats the 2Q buzzer on this step-back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KbvoyHMJKK
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 4, 2021
Damian Lillard became the 4th player in NBA history with 200 points and 60 assists in a playoff series, joining LeBron James, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 4, 2021
Lillard was the only one to accomplish the feat in 6 games. pic.twitter.com/4Y279RCTta
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Monte Morris beat the buzzer
Monte Morris throws up the runner from 3 to beat the 3rd quarter buzzer! #NBAPlayoffs @nuggets 98@trailblazers 101
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2021
4th quarter of Game 6 NEXT on TNT. pic.twitter.com/MrzC29kPIi
Related: NBA Highlights
SG Devin Booker, PHX (W @LAL): 47 PTS (15-22 FG | 8-10 3P), 3 AST, 11 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 3 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (6/3/21) - SG Devin Booker, PHX
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 4, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 1st Sun w/ 40+ PTS/10+ REB/5+ 3PM in 1 playoff GP
- 2nd PHX player w/ 45+ PTS & 10+ REB in 1 playoff GP
- 1st player with 6+ 3PM in 1 playoff Qtr in Suns history
KEY STATS
47 PTS, 11 REB, 15-22 FG, 8-10 3PM, 9-9 FT https://t.co/krfUToDF9y
Related: Players of the Day
Phoenix Suns (113) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (100)
[Highlights] #2 SUNS (+115; $14.78) d. #7 @LAKERS (-131; $9.03) 113-100 [PHX +2 | o207] (PHX 4-2)
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
DATE: June 3, 1992
SIGNIFICANCE: Michael Jordan scored an NBA Finals record 35 PTS & 6 3PM in the 1st half in the famous “shrug game”
June 3, 1992: In the Chicago #Bulls Game 1 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, SG Michael Jordan set NBA Finals records for PTS in a half (35) and 3PM in a half (6) with a game-high 39 points which featured his famous “shrug”
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 3, 2021
pic.twitter.com/FML47IzcWR
Related: Significant Sports History
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