Here are the top performers on March 17 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Jalen Johnson ATL SF 24 PTS | 15 REB | 13 AST | 60.5 FPS (vs. ORL)
Since the break, the Hawks have looked like a completely different team, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Johnson has been a major part of that turnaround, and he’ll continue to lead the charge. He’s now reached the 20-point mark in each of his last six games while also maintaining high-end production in both rebounding and playmaking.
BREAKOUT:
Kristaps Porzingis GSW C 30 PTS | 2 STL | 3 BLK | 54.0 FPS (vs. WAS)
The big man missed their previous game due to injury but he was back in the lineup today and finished with another impressive stat line. He was even better offensively, converting 13-of-14 from the stripe to match his best scoring output of the season. He’s likely to remain in a limited role for now, but he should continue to be dependable on the scoring end.
SLEEPER:
Yves Missi NOP C 10 REB | 5 AST | 5 BLK | 36.5 FPS (vs. DAL)
Scoring aside, the sophomore big man has been impressive over his last three games, averaging 9.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. With his role seeing an increase, an offensive improvement could soon come along.
ELITE ASSET:
Josh Giddey CHI PG 16 PTS | 15 REB | 13 AST | 60.5 FPS (vs. MEM)
The star guard has been nothing short of outstanding lately, frequently nearing triple-doubles. He had another one today, bringing his total to 12, trailing only Jokic and Johnson this year. If he keeps playing, he should have no trouble maintaining this production.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Nickeil Alexander-Walker ATL SG 41 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 59.9 FPS (vs. ORL)
The sharpshooting guard has been a revelation for the Hawks this season, showcasing upside as a high-level offensive player. He was at it again today, knocking down 9 threes to record the best scoring performance of his career. He’s now averaging 25.8 points, 4.7 threes, and 2 steals in his last six games.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Naji Marshall DAL SF 32 PTS | 8 REB | 7 AST | 52.1 FPS (vs. NOP)
Given the many injuries the Mavs have had all year, Marshall has emerged as one of their better players. While he definitely has the upside for these performances, he is equally prone to lackluster ones. Nevertheless, he has been solid lately, averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over the past three games.
STREAMER:
Gary Payton GSW PG 15 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 32.2 FPS (vs. WAS)
This marks the ninth time since the break that Payton has scored in double digits. Defensively, he’s also been reliable, recording multiple steals in seven games. With the Warriors missing several key players, he should continue to be a key contributor going forward.
FLOPPER:
CJ McCollum ATL PG 9 PTS | 3 AST | 1 BLK | 20.9 FPS (vs. ORL)
The former All-Star had a big game against the Bucks, dropping 30 points with 7 threes. But it was the complete opposite today, shooting just 3-for-14, including 1-for-7 from three, and scoring fewer than 10 points for the third time since moving to the Hawks.
