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What Happened in Sports: December 31, 2020
What happened in sports on December 31, 2020 ft. John Wall hooping in his long-anticipated return, David Baktiari tearing his ACL, and more!
Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images
December 31st, 2020 was highlighted by John Wall’s first official NBA game in almost two years as he showed minimal rust in a close Rockets victory over the Kings. Packers All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari tore his ACL, which could cause a major shift in the NFC landscape with the playoffs approaching, and the Ravens agreed to an extension with elite Nickel CB Jimmy Smith. Check out everything that happened in sports on December 31st last year, highlighted by Washington hiring HC Ron Rivera and Cleveland firing GM John Dorsey.
This daily sports article includes real headlines only (no clickbait rumors), all of the best highlights, interesting facts from around the NFL, NBA, & MLB, the main games to watch, top performances of the day, significant birthdays, and a quick recap of notable events on this day in sports history. More content will be uploaded throughout the day.
Harden & Wall combine for 5⃣5⃣ points and 1⃣7⃣ assists in their first game as @HoustonRockets teammates!@JHarden13: 33 PTS, 8 AST@JohnWall: 22 PTS, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/pKugEKQ0TF
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
Otto Porter Jr. stuffs the stat sheet in the @chicagobulls W! #KiaTipOff20
28 PTS | 12 REB | 3 STL | 5 3PM | 10/14 FGM pic.twitter.com/5TjCcLOQRa
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
We’ve been waiting for one of those @ZO2_ x @Zionwilliamson collabs 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/32RKpj0e97
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 1, 2021
25 for @FredVanVleet, 20 for @Klow7 and 4 👌s apiece in the @Raptors win! #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/3bmNgCb3dP
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/a4rbWgK92R
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 1, 2021
Turbonis has been ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ 📈@Dsabonis11 ➡️ @Original_Turner pic.twitter.com/Eo8uiAEfCf
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 31, 2020
20+ and a W for this @sixers trio! #KiaTipOff20
🔔@sdotcurry: 21 PTS, 5 3PM
🔔@JoelEmbiid: 21 PTS, 9 REB
🔔@tobias31: 20 PTS, 9 REB pic.twitter.com/RH0IOQ0BvN
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
Strong first half of the season for Rui. 😤
15 PTS | 4-5 FGM | @WashWizards pic.twitter.com/KYPuVzrReV
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2020
Wall, Boogie balling in 1st half as @HoustonRockets teammates! 🚀
Wall: 14 PTS
Cousins: 8 PTS (3-4 shooting) pic.twitter.com/pC8eusta8U
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
Rui Hachimura behind the back pass for a Thomas Bryant dunk 😳 pic.twitter.com/O4E6HocJ9h
— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) December 31, 2020
Check off another franchise record for @TomBrady. ✔️
All 36 pass TDs that broke the @Buccaneers single-season record! #GoBucs
📺: #ATLvsTB — Sunday 1pm ET on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/201PNVzczm
— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2020
As the year comes to an end, let’s take a look back at the top rookie performers of 2020: https://t.co/hhufNWfu9P pic.twitter.com/1fU8GABqDy
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 31, 2020
From his first bucket to his 1000th straight game with 10+ PTS last night, we look back at a number of @KingJames‘ scoring milestones throughout his career! pic.twitter.com/nFBT6RjQlb
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2020
ANOTHER double-double for @Dsabonis11.. that’s 5 straight to start the season! Flexed biceps
25 PTS | 11 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/jyBfGn6C7b
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2020
.@youngchase907 has @WashingtonNFL one game away from the #NFLPlayoffs.
📺: #WASvsPHI— Sunday 8:20pm ET on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/b7VTgsX4Fi
— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2021
✨📚 Young All-Star guards clash out West! 🕷️✨
Catch @DevinBook and the @Suns take on @spidadmitchell and the @utahjazz in the final game of the calendar year at 9 PM ET on NBA TV! #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/yo4CAL4opm
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2021
Averaging 18.3 PPG and 5.8 APG, we showcase the best dimes from Markelle Fultz so far this season!@MarkelleF and the 4-0 @OrlandoMagic host the Sixers tonight at 6:30pm/et on NBA TV. #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/sY7QRo8MQM
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2020
.@KingHenry_2 in his last Week 17:
👑 211 yards, 3 touchdowns.
👑 2019 rushing title.
👑 @Titans playoff berth
📺: #TENvsHOU — Sunday 4:25pm ET on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/BXsBsWELnx
— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2020
Never forget that time Todd Helton caught Matt Carpenter with the hidden ball trick 😭 pic.twitter.com/hzU64ZXS4d
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) December 31, 2020
With @ThomasDavisSDTM’s playing days coming to an end, we look back at his resilient 16-year career that saw three ACL recoveries in the same knee. Will he have one more playoff run with @RiverboatRonHC?
📺: #WASvsPHI — Sunday 8:20pm ET on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/MHN6jjIjR6
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) December 31, 2020
The @BuffaloBills needed a little help from the @Bengals to get into the 2017 #NFLPlayoffs. @andydalton14 & @boutdat_23 delivered. (Dec. 31, 2017)
What wild Week 17 playoff scenarios will we see on Sunday? pic.twitter.com/pTqnP9hT7m
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) December 29, 2020
Roberto Clemente was one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/5rRar5Wxu7
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) December 7, 2020
Pass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season ☑️
Send the @Lions to the playoffs ☑️
Watch @BarrySanders' historic 1997, Week 17 performance for free at https://t.co/TAuzHi7hnf: https://t.co/uhPaeT63KI pic.twitter.com/OslD4rHSTq
— NFL (@NFL) May 12, 2020
December 31, 2016: Clemson blanks Ohio State 31-0 in a College Football Playoff Semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl. Deshaun Watson 1 passing TD, 2 rushing TDs. pic.twitter.com/rltfkniVOL
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) December 31, 2020
December 31, 1988: The Bears beat the Eagles 21-12 at Soldier Field in a playoff game known as “The Fog Bowl.” During the second quarter, a fog rolled over the field that was so thick, the players could barely see. pic.twitter.com/QzAN6Q56SY
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) December 31, 2020
[See More]
5:00 PM: Chicago Bulls (1-3) vs. Washington Wizards (0-4)
6:30 PM: Philadelphia 76ers (3-1) vs. Orlando Magic (4-0)
7:00 PM: Sacramento Kings (3-1) vs. Houston Rockets (0-2)
7:30 PM: New York Knicks (2-2) vs. Toronto Raptors (0-3)
9:00 PM: Phoenix Suns (3-1) vs. Utah Jazz (2-1)
[Highlights] PF Domantas Sabonis, IND (v.CLE): 25 PTS (10-14 FG | 2-2 3PT), 7 AST, 11 REB, 1 TO [Player of the Day]
[Highlights] F Otto Porter Jr., CHI (@WAS): 28 PTS (10-14 FG | 5-9 3PT), 3 AST, 12 REB, 3 STL
[Highlights] SG James Harden, HOU (v.SAC): 33 PTS (10-24 FG | 4-11 3PT), 8 AST, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 6 TO
[Highlights] C Richaun Holmes, SAC (@HOU): 22 PTS (10-13 FG), 2 AST, 13 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (v.CHI): 22 PTS (8-18 FG | 3-5 3PT), 11 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 5 TO
NFL: CB Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (turns 24)
MLB: LHP Ryan Yarbrough, Tampa Bay Rays (29)
NFL: S Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills (30)
MLB: RP Kelvin Herrera, Free Agent (31)
MLB: RP Alex Colome, Free Agent (32)
Most Significant Sports History
2017: Cleveland Browns lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-24, becoming just the 2nd team in NFL history to finish with an 0-16 record
2007: Super Bowl-winning HC Brian Billick was fired by the Baltimore Ravens after 9 seasons and an 85-67 record leading to John Harbaugh being hired as his successor
1997: Buffalo Bills HC Marv Levy retired after 10 seasons with the club, during which he led them to 4 consecutive Super Bowl appearances (all losses)
1972: Pittsburgh Pirates OF Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash while transporting relief supplies to Nicaragua
1972: Miami Dolphins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship to come one single game away from the 1st perfect season
1967: “Ice Bowl”: Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers defeated Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys 21-17 with a wind chill of -40 degrees
1967: Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers 40-7 to win their 1st and only AFL Championship
1966: 3B Eddie Matthews — the only Brave to play in all 3 cities (Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta) — was traded to the Houston Astros
1963: Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants for HC George Halas’ 8th and final NFL Championship
1961: Green Bay Packers HC Vince Lombardi won the 1st of his 5 NFL Championships over the next 7 seasons — a 37-0 victory over the New York Giants (Packers’ 7th overall title)
1954: Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers combined for 127 FTAs, the most in NBA history
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