The end of the 2020-2021 regular season is fast approaching with most teams only having under 15 games left to play. It has been a peculiar season, to say the least, with most teams dealing with players in and out of the lineup due to health protocols and no fans in the stand due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, this season has produced some great storylines and also some pretty amazing games. There were many games that went down to the wire this season and these five are the most entertaining games that the 2020-2021 season brought to its fans.
It’ll only get more wild as teams ramp up for a late-season push to climb the standings for playoff seeding. Or make the Play-in Tournament which is sure to provide even more excitement for fans. But for now, if you haven’t seen these five games, you should make it happen before the season ends on May 16th.
January 20th, 2021 :Cleveland Cavaliers Vs Brooklyn Nets
This was the debut game for the Brooklyn Net’s Star-studded trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving and they did not disappoint. The trio combined for 75 points but the real story of the game was the battle between Kyrie Irving and Collin Sexton. Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly leave the Cleveland Cavaliers on good terms, requesting a trade when it was leaked that he was being shopped around in 2018. It’s clear Kyrie dislikes the Cavaliers front office and every time he plays the Cavs he goes off averaging 25.8 points in six matchups.
Sexton was the first player drafted by the Cavaliers since Irving’s departure and the number he chose to wear was Irving’s old jersey number 2. Kyrie was motivated to show Sexton and the Cavaliers that they both made a mistake and Sexton, a player who Is known to never back down stepped up to the challenge. The result was an overtime thriller with tough shots being made from both dynamic guards down to the final buzzer featuring a career-high in points from Sexton.
February 2nd, 2021: Brooklyn Nets Vs Los Angles Clippers
This game featured 5 All-Star players which are the most we have seen this season besides watching the actual All-Star game. The Net’s All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving was all healthy and ready to take on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. This was an important game because it was one of the very few that actually featured the Net’s big three versus another top team in the NBA. The three have only played in 7 games together throughout this entire season due to various injuries and personal reasons between the Trio. Now with James Harden suffering a recent setback in relation to his hamstring injury, we may not see the Net’s at full strength until the playoffs.
However, in this game versus the Clippers, we got to see what a potential Finals Matchup would look like and neither side disappointed. The Clippers are out for revenge following their embarrassing exit from last season’s playoffs and they took this game versus the Net’s as an early-season test to show the league they mean business. It went down to the final moments for a winner to be decided in this high-scoring All-Star-filled matchup.
March 16th, 2021: Portland Trailblazers Vs New Orleans Pelicans
This Western Conference showdown featured two of the most exciting player’s in the NBA at the moment. The first being Zion Williamson is the most intriguing player on the New Orleans Pelicans due to what he is accomplishing already in his short NBA career. Then the second being Damian Lillard who has gained MVP consideration for the job he has done carrying the trailblazers as they navigate the season with multiple injuries to key starters. Both teams definitely focus more on the offensive side of the ball than on defense and Lillard took full advantage of that reaching 50 points for the 12th time in his career. This was another down to the wire game and it included one of the clutches players in the NBA and a rising star, there isn’t much more you could ask for.
April 17th, 2021 : Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics
April was an amazing month for the Golden State Warriors and Stephen curry. I pegged Stephen Curry as the most intriguing player on the Golden State Warriors because of this unique situation he has found himself in this season as the only elite scoring option on the warriors in recent years. So far he has not disappointed at all, Curry has been so dominant this season that some would say he runs the NBA. It is a hard point to argue as he is currently leading the NBA in scoring and has broken the record for most made three’s in a month with 83 in April. Curry is on track to single-handedly drag the Warriors into the playoffs.
On the other side of this matchup was the Boston Celtics led by the young star, Jayson Tatum. While there may be something wrong with the Boston Celtics and they have plenty of problems to fix there should be some relief that Tatum has shown he has the ability to carry this franchise. Curry and Tatum both finished with over 40 points trading baskets in one of the most exciting matchups this season.
March 3rd,2021: Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers
This is a game that could possibly be filled with multiple winners for end-of-the-year awards as they have candidates for almost every major category. Doc Rivers and Quinn Snyder both have done an exceptional job leading their teams to contender status which puts them in the running for Coach of the year. Teammates Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid both feel they have a shot to win the DPOY along with Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert looking to win his third. Jordan Clarkson has the 6th man of the year virtually locked up with his play this season and Tobias Harris’s leap in efficiency has made him a dark horse for the most improved player award.
In the matchup between two of the most dominant big men in the league, neither side disappointed as they both have plenty to prove pertaining to being a serious contender this season. Embiid has always been extra motivated to go against the top center’s in the NBA and he definitely showed it in this game. This was easily one of the best games this season between top teams in different conferences and there was an overtime period needed to decide the outcome.
