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The Best of the Day: March 16th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from March 16, 2021 including Dame's insane clutch game, Jimmy entering the MVP conversation, and more!
Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
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 3/16 here.
Damian Lillard’s 50-point explosion vs. the Pelicans was the biggest story from Tuesday night’s NBA slate. Lillard’s clutch performance down the stretch spearheaded a comeback for the ages by the Trail Blazers. Also, Jimmy Butler has inserted himself in the MVP conversation since returning from COVID-19, Lauri Markkanen threw down a monster jam, and Andy Dalton’s addition to Chicago gives them a QB with more production than they ever had.
Here is the best of the day from March 16, 2021:
Dame’s 50-piece leads Portland’s legendary 17-pt comeback in the final 6 mins
It appears that no obstacle is too difficult to overcome for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard scored 20 of his season-high 50 points in the fourth quarter, including outscoring the Pelicans himself 15-7 in the final six minutes to pull out a miraculous one-point win over New Orleans.
The comeback wasn’t without help, though, as two Pelicans mishaps ultimately doomed New Orleans in clutch time. Up 124-121 with 7.2 seconds left, Pelicans F Brandon Ingram had a chance to seal the game at the free throw line. However, he missed both attempts, opening the door for Portland. Right after that on the other end, Lillard made both of his free throw attempts to close the deficit to one.
Then, on the Pelicans’ next possession, Nickel Alexander-Walker lost the ball out of bounds with 4.2 seconds left. That led to another shooting foul on Lillard, who proceeded to sink both shots from the charity stripe to give the Blazers a 125-124 lead. Portland still had to hold their breath though, as Lonzo Ball‘s perfectly placed heave found Zion Williamson, who’s turn-around shot at the buzzer nearly went in, which could’ve spoiled Dame’s latest example of heroics.
DAME GETS 50 IN A COMEBACK WIN OVER THE PELICANS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jUD0EGZ1y8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 17, 2021
This is just the latest appearance of ‘Dame Time’ in what seems like a nightly occurrence for the NBA’s most clutch player. This game was also significant as CJ McCollum returned after missing two months due to a left foot fracture. McCollum, who had been averaging a career-high 26.7 PPG before suffering the injury, will be a huge boost in Portland’s attempt to break into the upper tier of contenders in the West.
The Blazers’ 2nd and 3rd best players are injured for 52 combined games this season.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 17, 2021
They are 23-16, tied for 5th in a loaded West.
Dame is averaging 31/5/8 on 45/39/94%.
He leads the NBA in clutch points, threes, FG%, 3P% and wins.
This man belongs in the MVP discussion. pic.twitter.com/mmDnRHlCJw
Damian Lillard of the @trailblazers is the first player in NBA history to have 50+ points and 10+ assists while shooting 65.0+ percent from the field and 100.0 percent from the line in a game.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 17, 2021
Games with 50+ points and 10+ assists in the last 2 seasons:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 17, 2021
3 — Damian Lillard
1 — Rest of NBA combined pic.twitter.com/URkytUd7Ku
Related: Stories of the Day
JIMMY BUTLER IS EMERGING AS A LEGITIMATE MVP CANDIDATE
The Miami Heat’s 113-98 victory on Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers marked their fifth win in a row and their ninth in their last ten games. This winning spree has them sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, poised for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The recent success of the Heat is largely due to the return of their star player Jimmy Butler.
The Heat’s success is making a strong case for Butler to elevate into an MVP candidate and a serious one at that. Butler’s supporting cast is full of younger, inexperienced players like Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn. Butler is clearly a great leader and mentor for these young players, as he led them to the Finals last year, and has them in a great position again this year, set for another deep playoff run.
Butler is averaging 21.4 PPG, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while shooting an efficient 46.7% from the field. He does a great job on the defensive end as well, averaging 2.2 steals per game with some timely turnovers throughout the season. He also has a player efficiency rating of 27.2, right behind Damian Lillard for the fifth-highest this year. These display his impressive, well-rounded, and consistent production, and he also has something that can’t be found on a stat sheet.
This would be his hard work and hustle he puts into every possession, both offensively and defensively. There aren’t many guys who play with more heart than Butler does night in and night out. These numbers, along with leading an inexperienced team to one of the East’s top spots shows why Butler has entered himself into the MVP race, and his stock will only rise as the Miami Heat continue to rattle off victories down the stretch.
COLORS KEY | FULL HEAT OUTLOOK
Jimmy Butler tonight:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 17, 2021
28 points
12 rebounds
4 assists
2 steals
11/16 FG
6/6 FT
Miami on a 10 game winning streak with Jimmy in the lineup 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Q6fYqZ5i4S
Jimmy Butler this season:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 17, 2021
56 steals
33 personal fouls pic.twitter.com/PFVUvMtX86
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Markkanen left his mark vs. OKC
ALL-ANGLES of Lauri Markkanen's FEROCIOUS JAM! 😤 pic.twitter.com/m5zIgk6QjY
— NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Damian Lillard, POR (W v.NOP): 50 PTS (13-20 FG | 6-13 3P), 10 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (3/16/21) - PG Damian Lillard, POR
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 17, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 1st ever w/ 50 PTS/10 AST/65% FG/100% FT in 1 GP
- 3 GP of 50pts/10ast in last 2 seasons, rest of NBA has 1
- Most clutch PTS/3PM/FG%/3P%/W this season
KEY STATS:
50 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB, 13-20 FG, 6-13 3P, 18-18 FT https://t.co/ga4ph6Sjy6
Related: Players of the Day
Portland Trail Blazers (125) [GW-FT] vs. New Orleans Pelicans (124)
[Highlights] @BLAZERS (-125; $10.27) d. PELICANS (+105; $8.80) 125-124 (GW-FT) [NOP +2 | o239]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Free agency continues as more teams look to solidify their rosters ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft
Baltimore Ravens have re-signed EDGE Tyus Bowser on a 4y/$22M deal ($12M gtd) plus $5M incentives pic.twitter.com/0vknvv6Xd5
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 16, 2021
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