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The Best of the Day: May 14th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from May 14, 2021 including Jordan Poole's career night vs. NOP, Hardaway Jr.'s sick dime, and more!
NBC 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 5/14 here.
The Warriors earned an impressive victory over the Pelicans Friday night without several key starters, including Steph Curry. In his absence, second-year PG Jordan Poole lit up New Orleans on his way to a career night. With some potentially exciting matchups set in the play-in tournament, the new format likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Tim Hardaway Jr. dished out a ridiculous assist, Russell Westbrook put the Wizards on his back with another triple-double, and PSO ranked the 10 most significant shots of the last decade.
Here is the best of the day from May 14, 2021:
Jordan Poole’s career game kept the Warriors afloat without Curry to stay in 8th
Jordan Poole dropped a career-high 38 points as the Golden State Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 125-122 Friday night. Not only was this Poole’s best game ever as a pro, but he came up huge at the end for his team when it mattered most. Poole hit the go-ahead layup with 21.4 seconds remaining and then converted two free throws with less than a second left to seal the win.
38 PTS | 12-22 FG | 4-9 3FG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 15, 2021
Jordan Poole was in the zone tonight. pic.twitter.com/YY0W4n90Q2
The win for Golden State was even more impressive considering they were without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins due to various injuries. Poole wasn’t the only unlikely Warrior to have a big night though, as Mychal Mulder also registered a career-high in scoring with 28 points. This was a much-needed win for the Warriors, who remained in the eighth spot for the play-in tournament, but are tied with Memphis after their win Friday night as well.
Related: Stories of the Day
THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT LIKELY ISN’T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON
This is the second season in a row where the NBA has had a shortened year due to COVID and has implemented some sort of play-in tournament for the final playoff spot(s). The idea was to give more teams a chance to get into the postseason because they would be missing games that they could’ve used to climb the standings in a normal year. Additionally, the NBA wanted to trial this concept for future years that would create a more meaningful end to the season.
The league was hoping that there would be more wire-to-wire races for seeding towards the end of the season with a play-in tournament at hand, and they got what they wanted. Trying to stay out of the seven spot in the West has been exciting, and still isn’t finished with two days left in the regular season. Portland and LAL still don’t know who is playing in the play-in tournament and who isn’t. Along with this, eighth place gets an extra shot to make it, where the ninth spot could be done after just one game.
Memphis and Golden State have been battling for the 8/9 spots in the West lately but this play-in has made for a potential LeBron vs. Steph matchup, which is a perfect way to drive in viewers. This year it was about giving more teams a fair chance like how DC was devastated with COVID-related issues early on, and their record reflected it. But now with an impressive second half of the season, they get a shot. With all the positives of the play-in tournament, it likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
COLORS KEY | FULL WIZARDS OUTLOOK
Russell Westbrook (17 AST tonight) is the third player in NBA history to tally 15+ assists in 7 straight games, joining John Stockton (3 times) and Isiah Thomas. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/X1ToffQNKg
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 15, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Tim Hardaway Jr. drops the dime
Nasty. (via @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/Jti7GOaB8L
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 15, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Russell Westbrook, WSH (W v.CLE): 21 PTS (7-18 FG | 1-5 3P), 17 AST, 12 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 1 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (5/14/21) - PG Russell Westbrook, WAS
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 15, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Extended all-time triple-doubles record to 183
- DC clinched a play-in spot, eliminating the Bulls
- 3rd player ever with 7 straight GP of 15+ AST
KEY STATS:
21 PTS, 17 AST, 12 REB, 3 STL, 1 TOV, 7-18 FG (39%) https://t.co/RlWgGfKwp3
Related: Players of the Day
New Orleans Pelicans (122) vs. Golden State Warriors (125) [GW-FG]
[Highlights] @WARRIORS (-130; $8.91) d. PELICANS (+112; $8.85) 125-122 (GW-FG) [GSW -2 | o224.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
PSO ranks the 10 most significant shots of the 2010’s
Clutch shots, game-winners, and buzzer-beaters. The 10 most significant shots of the 2010s have it all https://t.co/sfnbDeAEf5
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 15, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: May 14, 2018
SIGNIFICANCE: The Supreme Court struck down the 1992 federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize wagering
May 14, 2018: The Supreme Court struck down the 1992 federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize wagering which paves the way for gambling on games nationwide 💰💰💰
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 14, 2021
https://t.co/5Ih49mXrLW
Related: Significant Sports History
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