HOT
The Best of the Day: May 16th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from May 16, 2021 including Curry and Westbrook's historic seasons, the Nets' play of the year, 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 5/16 here.
The NBA concluded an epic 2021 season on Sunday with every team taking the floor. Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook concluded their historic seasons by putting their teams on their backs one last time to secure the No. 8 seeds in their respective conferences. Also, the 76ers have the easiest path to the Conference Finals with the way the final seedings played out, the Nets converted the play of the year vs. Cleveland, and on this day in 1980, Magic Johnson broke an NBA Finals rookie record for most PTS after memorably filling in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Center during Game 6.
Here is the best of the day from May 16, 2021:
An epic ending to the 2021 regular season highlighted by Curry and Westbrook’s historic seasons
The 2020-21 NBA season concluded on Sunday, as all 30 teams were in action on the final day of the regular season. The day was highlighted by a huge performance from Steph Curry, who led the Warriors to a crucial win over Memphis to nab the No. 8 seed. Curry dropped 46 points, and in doing so, clinched his second-career scoring title (32.0 PPG).
This was a historic season for Curry, likely his best ever, which is saying something for the greatest shooter in history and the only player ever to win an unanimous league MVP. He is the oldest player (33) since Michael Jordan to lead the league in scoring, and recorded the most 30+ GP (38) in a season, also the most since Jordan. Curry shattered several 3PT records, including a record fourth season with 300+ 3PM (led NBA with 337), seven GP with 10+ 3PM (most ever), and the most 3PM/GP (5.3) in NBA history.
Steph Curry 2020-21 season:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 16, 2021
— 32.0 PPG (leads NBA)
— Oldest to win scoring title since MJ
— 38 30-point games (most since MJ)
— 337 threes (leads NBA)
— 4th 300-three season (most ever)
— 7 10-three games (most ever)
— 5.3 3PG (most ever)
— Broke Warriors all-time scoring record pic.twitter.com/DS84gkjcAv
Curry wasn’t the only PG to have a ridiculous season though, as Russell Westbrook put up insane numbers in his first season with the Wizards. Russ extended his own NBA-record with his fourth season averaging a triple-double (22.2 PTS/11.7 AST/11.5 REB). It seems only fitting that he concluded the regular season with a triple-double (23 PTS/15 REB/10 AST), his 38th of the season (third-most ever), in Washington’s win over Charlotte to clinch the No. 8 seed with the right to earn the No. 7 seed vs. Boston.
22.2 PPG | 11.5 RPG | 11.7 APG
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 16, 2021
Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the season for the fourth time in his career.
He joins Oscar Robertson as the only players to average 11+ RPG and 11+ APG in a season. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/cJLEXkUgLa
Most triple-doubles during 1 season in NBA history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 17, 2021
1. 2016-17 Russell Westbrook (42)
2. 1961-62 Oscar Robertson (41)
3. 2020-21 Russell Westbrook (38)
3. 2018-19 Russell Westbrook (34)
4. 1967-68 Wilt Chamberlain (31)
pic.twitter.com/6z5DnrDXep
Now with the regular season in the books, the play-in tournament is set to begin Tuesday, May 18th. There are some exciting matchups set, but none more so than Lakers-Warriors, as LeBron and the defending champs will face off with his old NBA Finals nemesis in Steph. Celtics-Wizards is sure to be entertaining as well, even without Jaylen Brown and maybe not a 100% Bradley Beal. Despite the injury concerns, the NBA has to love how the matchups turned out, which means the play-in tournament likely won’t be going anywhere.
Related: Stories of the Day
PHILADELPHIA’S PATH TO REACH THE CONFERENCE FINALS IS ABOUT AS EASY AS IT GETS
After each team played their final game on Sunday night, the playoff field and seedings were finalized. The Philadelphia 76ers are looking like the big winner after the bracket was all said and done. They have had the one seed in the East locked up for a few games now, and their hard work to earn this position is looking like it is going to pay off big time. Luckily, their path runs through some of the weakest teams in the entire playoff field.
Since they’ve received the top spot, their first-round matchup is not yet determined but will be the second team to come out of the play-in tournament. No matter who they face, it’ll be a team without the week of rest they get and coming off playing two games instead of rest. Their most likely opponent is Boston who is now without Jaylen Brown while Indiana has had problems with coaches, Charlotte has struggled without Hayward, and DC’s best player Bradley Beal is dealing with a hamstring injury that could limit him.
Assuming they don’t get upset by an eight seed, which hasn’t happened since 2012 when Derrick Rose went down with an injury for Chicago, Philly will draw New York or Atlanta in round two. These two teams, although seeded fourth and fifth respectively, are extremely unproven and don’t have the same level of talent. ATL hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016 and NY’s on an eight-season drought. Essentially, Philadelphia’s competition to reach the conference finals is about as easy as it gets in the postseason.
COLORS KEY | FULL 76ERS OUTLOOK
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Brooklyn Nets with the play of the year
"ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR!"@BrooklynNets things. 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/tdDRDkjrcB
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Steph Curry, GSW (W v.MEM): 46 PTS (16-36 FG | 9-22 3P), 9 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 7 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (5/16/21) - PG Steph Curry, GSW
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 17, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Most 3PM/GP (5.3) during 1 season in NBA history
- Career-high 36 FGA & 22 3PA to clinch 2nd scoring title
- #Warriors clinched 8 seed to play Lakers in play-in
KEY STATS:
46 PTS, 9 AST, 7 REB, 16-36 FG, 9-22 3P https://t.co/BMBPtJ6Pgz
Related: Players of the Day
Phoenix Suns (123) vs. San Antonio Spurs (121) [GW-3PM]
[Highlights] SUNS (-398; $14.66) d. @SPURS (+324; $11.94) 123-121 (GW-3PM) [SAS +9 | o225.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Arguably the greatest defensive player in NBA history will finally be enshrined into the Hall of Fame
View this post on Instagram
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: May 16, 1980
SIGNIFICANCE: Magic Johnson filled in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Center and recorded an NBA Finals rookie record of 42 PTS
FULL story on Magic Johnson's legendary NBA Finals performance OTD: https://t.co/zTDpRqueu1
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 16, 2021
Related: Significant Sports History
Share the Best of the Day and follow below for more great sports content!
