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What Happened in Sports: May 23, 2021
What happened in sports on May 23, 2021 ft. Trae Young's GW vs. Knicks, Grizzlies upset in Utah, Suns beat Lakers, and more!
Chris Smoove/YouTube
May 23rd, 2021 was highlighted by Trae Young’s GW in Madison Square Garden to kick off an exciting Hawks-Knicks series that came down to the wire. The Memphis Grizzlies pulled off a major upset over the Jazz in another close game on the day while the Suns handled the Lakers at home, and the 76ers took down the Wizards in Game 1 of their respective series. A number of MLB walk-offs took place to keep the sports world buzzing.
See what happened in sports on May 23rd last year, headlined by the NBA expressing their desire to resume play, the league surveying GM’s about how to do so, and James Paxton getting back to full strength. 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, notable birthdays, and a quick recap of significant events on this day in sports history.
TRAE. TOO CLUTCH. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fxnJTeGGYU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 24, 2021
🔥 WHAT A FINISH at MSG 🔥
The @ATLHawks and @nyknicks went back-and-forth down the stretch during the first #NBAPlayoffs game at Madison Square Garden since 2013!
Game 2 – Wed, 7:30 PM ET, TNT pic.twitter.com/b13IGmXwpv
— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2021
RJ BARRETT THROWS IT DOWN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VHPMWQMJyU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 24, 2021
Simmons got UP for the putback slam 💥 pic.twitter.com/0UEkHNcFJM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 23, 2021
Javy breaks the scoreless tie in the 10th. 😤 pic.twitter.com/XTdH2qrZNz
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2021
BIG-TIME strikeout to end it. 😱 pic.twitter.com/aFuZ2NU95S
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2021
Carlos Santana for the win! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/aXzMIQ7QNx
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021
This Story ends with a #walkoff. pic.twitter.com/vmpPNhEZnT
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021
#AllRise for @TheJudge44‘s 1st career walk-off 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/Iqlbs8Px7m
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 23, 2021
What a weekend for @AdolisJose! 😱#Walkoff pic.twitter.com/ktN31UxPDt
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021
Andrew Vaughn ties it in the 9th! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QmsSA7b59K
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021
#SlamDiego. @tatis_jr. What more is there to say? pic.twitter.com/k9TF9bbZAW
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 23, 2021
474 ft of destruction. pic.twitter.com/XuHWud2UBG
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 23, 2021
🧊 32 points for Trae Young
🧊 13 in the 4th quarter
🧊 10 assists
🧊 Game-winning floater with 0.9 left
What an #NBAPlayoffs debut. @TheTraeYoung x @ATLHawks pic.twitter.com/nrXmLI4GYD
— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2021
37 points for @tobias31 (#NBAPlayoffs career-high).
30 points for @JoelEmbiid (21 in 2nd half).
1-0 series lead for @sixers.
Game 2 – Wed, 7pm/et, NBA TV pic.twitter.com/UZgw1XmjIQ
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
9 points in the 1st.
8 points in the 2nd.
8 points in the 3rd.
9 points in the 4th.
Quarter by quarter, @DevinBook got buckets for @Suns in his #NBAPlayoffs debut.
PHX up 1-0.. Game 2 ⤵️
Tuesday, 10:00 PM ET, TNT pic.twitter.com/OwjHEpTihr
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
Devin Booker continues to RISE! 📚☀️
The 6th-year shooting guard makes his #NBAPlayoffs debut as the @Suns face the Lakers 3:30 PM ET on ABC. pic.twitter.com/DH6aBaDQ2l
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
BIG Game 1 for @DeandreAyton.
☀️ 21 PTS
☀️ 16 REB
☀️ 10-11 FGM@Suns seek 2-0 series lead Tuesday at 10pm/et on TNT. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/y7teCKKr5C
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
💥 LeBron’s BEST DUNKS from season 18! #ATTSlamDunk
🆚: LAKERS/SUNS (0-0)
🏀: #NBAPlayoffs Game 1
📺: 3:30pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/1EptIZO8Y9
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
Averaging 28.5 PPG this season, Joel Embiid has extended his scoring ability to inside & out of the paint!
The #1 in the East @sixers host #8 WAS for Game 1 TODAY at 1:00 PM ET on TNT. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4bnV3dcwHR
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
Icy under pressure.. @TheTraeYoung added to his clutch resume in his #NBAPlayoffs debut. ❄️
Game 2 – Wed, 7:30pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/k5ohTHqSGV
— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2021
Shooting, passing, finishing.. @TheTraeYoung had a monster regular season!
25.3 PPG | 9.4 APG
He makes his #NBAPlayoffs debut at 7 PM ET as the @ATLHawks face NYK on TNT. pic.twitter.com/gAag523DKj
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
Julius Randle has had NYC buzzing this season. 🌆🏙️@nyknicks host Hawks (7pm/et on TNT) in the first #NBAPlayoffs game at MSG since 2013! pic.twitter.com/JFsgkGoaCW
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2021
2.7 blocks per game.
13.5 rebounds per game.
67.5% shooting.@rudygobert27 is a PROBLEM in the paint!
🏀: UTA/MEM at 9:30pm/et
📺: #NBAPlayoffs on TNT pic.twitter.com/up7SFiYGpa
— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2021
Aaron Donald has the most DPOY (3) by a DT in NFL history and the t-most of any player pic.twitter.com/AF5z1qMzjM
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
Aaron Donald recorded the most SK (85.5) by any DT through 7 seasons in NFL history pic.twitter.com/hGu4TgVVXO
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
Los Angeles #Rams DL Aaron Donald has the most SK (85.5), TFL (131), and QB Hits (199) of any NFL player since entering the NFL in 2014 pic.twitter.com/kIyhC00Z2Q
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
Aaron Donald will go down as the greatest Defensive Tackle of all-time pic.twitter.com/ViYo3yUEDl
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
Happy birthday to the greatest defensive player in the NFL 😎 @AaronDonald97 pic.twitter.com/W1EuhYcn6N
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
2017. 2018. 2020.
Which @AaronDonald97 DPOY season was the most DOMINANT? pic.twitter.com/0MJ0knqgP6
— NFL (@NFL) July 15, 2021
May 23, 2002: Los Angeles #Dodgers OF Shawn Green broke Joe Adcock’s MLB record with 19 TB during 1 GP, going 6-6 with 4 HRs, 7 RBI, & 6 runs in a 16-3 demolition of the Milwaukee Brewers fueled by 1 of the greatest individual performances of all-time
pic.twitter.com/IN5FRy9oBP
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
May 23, 1978: C Bill Walton (18.9 PPG, 13.2 RPG) was named MVP after leading Portland to a 50-10 record before foot injuries stifled season. His 70.7% of GP is by far the lowest of any MVP in NBA history (2nd lowest was 2001 Allen Iverson – 86.6%)
pic.twitter.com/2nXO8jlvnR
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 24, 2021
May 23, 2015: Pure wizardry by Joey Votto. 🧙♂️ #RedsVault pic.twitter.com/WW1qrsYIno
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 23, 2021
[SEE MORE]
[Highlights] #5 HAWKS (-105; $13.67) d. #4 @KNICKS (-115; $18.22) 107-105 (GW-FG) [ATL +1 | u214.5] (ATL 1-0)
[Highlights] #8 GRIZZLIES (+323; $12.26) d. #1 @JAZZ (-402; $13.00) 112-109 [MEM +8.5 | o217] (MEM 1-0)
[Highlights] #1 @76ERS (-340; $11.26) d. #8 WIZARDS (+273; $11.15) 125-118 [WSH +8 | o228.5] (PHI 1-0)
[Highlights] #2 @SUNS (-135; $14.78) d. #7 LAKERS (+115; $9.03) 99-90 [PHX -2.5 | u213] (PHX 1-0)
[Highlights] PG Trae Young, ATL (W @NYK): 32 PTS (11-23 FG | 1-3 3P), 10 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO [Player of the Day]
[Highlights] SG Devin Booker, PHX (W v.LAL): 34 PTS (13-26 FG | 3-7 3P), 8 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 6 TO
[Highlights] SF Tobias Harris, PHI (W v.WSH): 37 PTS (15-29 FG | 2-5 3P), 2 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] C Deandre Ayton, PHX (W v.LAL): 21 PTS (10-11 FG | 0-0 3P), 0 AST, 16 REB, 1 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO
[Highlights] SG Bradley Beal, WSH (L @PHI): 33 PTS (13-23 FG | 1-6 3P), 6 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 6 TO
NBA: C Jaxson Hayes, New Orleans Pelicans (turns 21)
NFL: CB Rock Ya-Sin, Indianapolis Colts (25)
NFL: OT Tytus Howard, Houston Texans (25)
NFL: LB Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens (26)
NFL: DL Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers (28)
NFL: DL Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams (30)
MLB: 2B Cesar Hernandez, Cleveland Indians (31)
2018: NFL instituted a National Anthem policy that required players to stand if they are present on the field
2002: Los Angeles Dodgers OF Shawn Green went 6-for-6 with 4 HRs, 7 RBI, 6 runs, and broke Joe Adcock’s MLB record with 19 total bases in a 16-3 demolition of the Milwaukee Brewers fueled by 1 of the greatest individual performances of all-time
1989: Cleveland Indians fell to a record of 21-22 but remained in 1st place of their division by percentage points, marking the latest in a season a sub-.500 team has been in 1st place
1982: After surrendering a 3-1 series lead to the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers went on the road in Game 7 to clinch the Eastern Conference title; during the game’s winding moments, a chant of “Beat LA!” broke out amongst the Boston crowd yet Philly ended up beating Boston and losing to LA in 6 games
1978: Leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 50-10 record before foot injuries stifled his season, C Bill Walton (18.9 PPG, 13.2 RPG) was named league MVP. His 70.7% of team games played in is by far the lowest of any MVP in NBA history (2nd lowest was 2001 Allen Iverson with 86.6%)
1976: Behind a 25-point, 21-rebound game from C Dave Cowens, the Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 98-87 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals
1975: In their Game 3 victory over the Washington Bullets, the Golden State Warriors set an NBA Finals record with 17 total steals
1970: Each scoring 14 runs through 9 innings, the San Diego Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants 17-16 in 15 innings after each team scored 2 in the 11th
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