Here are the top performers on January 19 and the stats to highlight their impact:
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Deni Avdija POR SF 30 PTS | 8 REB | 8 AST | 51.6 FPS (vs. SAC)
Deni missed the last three games with a back injury, but he delivered another elite performance in his return, finishing with his 12th 30-point game of the season. The forward has been playing at an All-Star level this season and is one of the main reasons the Blazers remain a playoff team.
BREAKOUT:
De’Andre Ayton LAL C 25 PTS | 13 REB | 1 BLK | 45.1 FPS (vs. TOR)
DominAyton came up huge for the Lakers, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the field for his ninth 20-point game of the season while also recording another double-digit rebounding performance for his 16th double-double. He’s clearly capable of big games like this, but consistency remains an issue.
SLEEPER:
Jalen Smith CHI C 12 PTS | 10 REB | 2 STL | 33.5 FPS (vs. BKN)
Smith stepped up again for the Bulls, posting his fourth straight double-digit scoring game while also grabbing at least nine rebounds for the fifth consecutive outing. He also continues to show elite potential for his position, providing added value this month with his shot-blocking and three-point shooting in select games.
ELITE ASSET:
Kevin Durant HOU PF 18 PTS | 6 REB | 8 AST | 37.2 FPS (vs. NOP)
KD had his worst shooting performance of the month, converting just 1-of-8 from deep and finishing under the 20-point mark for the second time in his last three games after reaching that threshold in 15 consecutive outings. Despite that, he still made history, climbing to sixth on the all-time scoring list and surpassing Dirk Nowitzki.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Yves Missi NOP C 10 PTS | 6 REB | 2 BLK | 30.7 FPS (vs. HOU)
Despite his inconsistent minutes, Missi has remained steady in defense, averaging 2.2 blocks in his last five games and ranking inside the top 20 in total blocks this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Shaedon Sharpe POR SG 27 PTS | 7 REB | 1 STL | 33.4 FPS (vs. SAC)
Sharpe is on an elite scoring run, posting at least 19 points in eight consecutive games. He has established himself as a reliable scorer this season, ranking just outside the top 30 in points per game while also showing potential as an all-around contributor.
STREAMER:
Matas Buzelis CHI SF 17 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 34.5 FPS (vs. BKN)
The sophomore forward has been really productive lately, recording at least 15 points and five rebounds in four of his last five games. With the Bulls missing several key players, he should continue to see a big role in the team’s rotation and maintain solid production.
FLOPPER:
Jamal Murray DEN PG 16 PTS | 2 AST | 1 STL | 22.2 FPS (vs. CHA)
Murray has performed at an MVP level this month, averaging 32.2 points and 10 assists while knocking down nearly four three-pointers per game and shooting 88% from the free-throw line. However, he was far less productive today, recording his lowest scoring output in his last 13 games and making little impact in other areas.
