Going Down To The Wire: 8 Memorable Moments from the Current NBA Season

LeBron James vs Steph Curry in the play-in tournament

During the final stages of the regular season, the two most popular players in the league faced-off for the right to claim the 7th seed in the Western Conference. It was easily the most hyped game of the season, with some even calling it more exciting than the Finals itself.

It was the first high-stakes game between the two superstars since the 2018 NBA Finals, and it did not disappoint. The game went down to the final minute where LeBron nailed a bailout three-pointer to give the Lakers the lead for good, to the delight of Drake.

Kevin Durant being pulled out in the middle of a game due to health protocols

Kevin Durant was originally part of the starting lineup during the Brooklyn Nets’ February matchup against the Toronto Raptors. However, he was pulled back right before the game started due to contact tracing. He was eventually cleared to play again and entered the game late in the 1st quarter.

In another turn of events, the NBA withdrew their clearance of Durant and forced him to leave the game midway through the 3rd quarter. The league’s statement said that Durant had an interaction with someone who had an inconclusive PCR test result. An up-and-down ride indeed. KD tweeted about the chaos shortly after being pulled out:

Steph Curry’s 62-point eruption

Coming into the season, fans and critics alike had some doubts on Curry’s ability to carry a team on his back. The Warriors just lost two centerpieces of their dynasty in Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to free agency and injury. Curry had a slow start and the Warriors looked terrible in the first week of the season. The critics were already barking, but Curry responded by dropping career-best 62 points against one of his on-court rivals Damian Lillard. He put on a dazzling display of basketball, hitting 8 threes and shooting an efficient 18-for-31 from the field.

Nikola Jokic’s historic 50-point game

Probably the game that sealed the MVP award for him, Jokic became the first center since the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to score 50 points and dish 10 assists in a game. Although his team lost, this masterclass display was one for the ages.

James Harden, one of the league’s perennial superstars joined the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade, joining fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Iriving. He made a big splash on his debut on the new uniform, registering a triple double.

Damian Lillard’s ridiculous barrage of clutch shots

The Milwaukee Bucks literally being inches away from elimination