Here are the top performers on March 6 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 38 PTS | 16 REB | 5 BLK | 76.7 FPS (vs. DET)
The superstar center came through again with another signature performance. He registered his fifth game this year with at least 35 points, his 10th with at least 15 rebounds, and his 13th game with five blocks. He also added four three-pointers, becoming the first player in NBA history to record these numbers.
BREAKOUT:
Ace Bailey UTA SF 32 PTS | 7 3PM | 2 STL | 43.4 FPS (vs. WAS)
The rookie has started to figure things out on offense, reaching double-digit points in 11 of his previous 12 games. But he took his game to another level today, posting career-highs in both points and threes. With most of their core players dealing with injuries, he should continue to shoulder a similar offensive role moving forward.
SLEEPER:
Tristan da Silva ORL SF 19 PTS | 3 AST | 3 STL | 35.1 FPS (vs. DAL)
Da Silva turned in a perfect performance, shooting 7-of-7 to lead the team in scoring and finished with his fifth 19-point performance of the year. While his overall offensive game still needs work, he’s been really productive from the three-point area lately, averaging nearly 3 three-pointers over his last six games.
ELITE ASSET:
Nikola Jokic DEN C 28 PTS | 12 REB | 13 AST | 58.9 FPS (vs. LAL)
Jokic was simply unstoppable, posting his 13th straight 20-point game and his 43rd overall. He also delivered across the board, finishing with his 41st double-double and 23rd triple-double of the year. Despite that, he was far from his best today, recording nine turnovers for the third time this season.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Kel’el Ware MIA C 11 REB | 5 STL | 7 BLK | 65.7 FPS (vs. BKN)
The sophomore big man was completely dominant, posting his third straight and 21st double-double of the season while registering a career-high 7 blocks and also recording his second consecutive game with five steals. He became just the third player in the league’s history to reach those numbers in a game.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Precious Achiuwa SAC C 29 PTS | 12 REB | 5 AST | 59.9 FPS (vs. NOP)
Precious has had multiple big games lately and kept up his strong play today, tying his career-high in points. Despite some inconsistency, he has been very productive for the Kings, posting at least nine rebounds in each of his last six games and providing solid defensive production in his last four. He should also continue to contribute at a high level for the remainder of the season.
STREAMER:
Collin Sexton CHI SG 30 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 46.1 FPS (vs. PHX)
Since joining the Bulls, Sexton has proven to be a dependable contributor, knocking down multiple threes in seven games while also providing steady defensive production. But he was even more impressive lately, scoring 20 points in three straight games, which includes his season-high outing today. With several Bulls players sidelined, he should continue to handle a significant role for the time being.
FLOPPER:
Jabari Smith Jr. HOU PF 11 REB | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 20.2 FPS (vs. GSW)
Smith Jr. was productive in some areas, but his offensive performance was a major disappointment. He missed all his shots, recorded his worst scoring game of the season and also committed five turnovers.
