Here are the top performers on January 2 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Kawhi Leonard LAC SF 45 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 66.9 FPS
One of the league’s most dominant players right now, Kawhi continues his incredible play on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he stayed scorching hot, knocking down five three-pointers and scoring at least 30 points for the third straight game, while also logging his third 40-point outing in his last five. Defensively, he’s been just as impressive, averaging 8.5 rebounds and 4.2 stocks over his last six games. His performance leads the Clippers to their sixth-straight win.
BREAKOUT:
Kyle Anderson UTA SF 22 PTS | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 43.1 FPS
Slow-Mo hasn’t played since December 15, but he came up big against the Clippers, finishing with season-best numbers on both ends of the floor. While it’s unlikely that he keeps up this level of play, he should still be able to provide a positive impact with the team missing multiple key players.
SLEEPER:
Neemias Queta BOS C 13 PTS | 5 REB | 3 BLK | 30.0 FPS
This season has been a career year for the Celtics’ big man, who stepped into the starting lineup with several of their key players gone. He has made the most of his opportunity, providing consistent impact across multiple areas. He ranks 26th this season in total rebounds, 17th in total blocks, while being one of the most efficient scorers in the league, shooting at 66.7% and placing 7th.
ELITE ASSET:
Cade Cunningham DET PG 31 PTS | 8 REB | 11 AST | 65.1 FPS
The superstar guard had an off night offensively, but he compensated with an outstanding performance at the line, missing only one of his 18 attempts to finish with his 19th overall and fourth consecutive 25-point game of the season. Over his last nine games, Cunningham has produced elite multi-category numbers, averaging 26.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 1.7 steals. The only downside is his turnovers, as he’s averaging close to five per game.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Bam Adebayo MIA C 15 PTS | 14 REB | 2 STL | 39.8 FPS
Bam continues to make a strong impact in the paint, recording his second double-double in as many games after missing two games recently with a back issue. He’s also averaging 11.7 boards in his last seven games and ranks inside the top 20 in total rebounds this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Tari Eason HOU PF 15 PTS | 9 REB | 1 BLK | 30.9 FPS
The forward has been a steady contributor since coming back from an injury but he’s made a bigger impact as a starter, scoring in double-figures for the fourth time in six games while also averaging 7.7 rebounds over his last three outings. Still, he’s more reliable on defense, putting up 2.8 stocks over his last four games.
STREAMER:
Brandon Williams DAL PG 14 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 30.9 FPS
While he slowed down offensively after shooting 17-for-24 from the floor and averaging 24 points in his previous two outings. Williams still finished with another useful all-around line, posting 10+ RA for the fourth time this season and emerging as the Mavericks’ most reliable option at point guard in recent games.
FLOPPER:
Anthony Davis DAL C 13 PTS | 8 REB | 1 STL | 25.3 FPS
Davis played close to 40 minutes today after missing the team’s last two games with an injury. But he had subpar performance on offense and also had little impact in other areas.
