Here are the top performers on March 20 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Luka Doncic LAL PG 60 PTS | 7 REB | 5 STL | 85.9 FPS (vs. MIA)
Doncic is in the middle of a monster offensive stretch, scoring at least 30 points in each of his last eight games. He was even more impressive today, knocking down nine three-pointers and converting 15 of 19 from the line to reach the 60-point mark for the third time in his career. He also became the first Laker to hit that mark in nearly a decade, since Kobe Bryant did so in 2016.
BREAKOUT:
Elijah Harkless UTA SG 23 PTS | 4 3PM | 10 AST | 39.4 FPS (vs. MIL)
With another key player injured, the second-year guard moved into the starting lineup today and took full advantage, delivering the best game of his career. Despite some struggles lately, he’s still shown that he can contribute well for his position and should continue to see more chances to deliver again for the remainder of the season.
SLEEPER:
Quentin Grimes PHI SG 27 PTS | 5 REB | 7 AST | 42.5 FPS (vs. SAC)
Except for one game, Grimes has been on a scoring tear recently, recording at least 27 points three times. The Sixers will remain shorthanded for a while, so he’ll continue to handle a large offensive role and should be able to deliver more performances like this.
ELITE ASSET:
LeBron James LAL SF 19 PTS | 15 REB | 10 AST | 49.0 FPS (vs. MIA)
Despite missing some games recently, James has maintained his strong contributions in multiple categories. But his performance improved further in his last two games, scoring 30 points on a highly efficient 13-for-14 shooting against the Rockets and recording his second triple-double today. Though he’s not scoring as much as before, he has remained highly dependable on offense, maintaining strong efficiency throughout the month.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Jamir Watkins WAS SG 6 REB | 3 STL | 4 BLK | 40.7 FPS (vs. DET)
Overall, it hasn’t been a very productive year for the rookie. However, he continues to showcase elite defensive upside, delivering a season-best performance today. While his role remains limited, he should still be productive on defense, averaging 2.5 steals over his last four games.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Justin Edwards PHI SF 32 PTS | 4 AST | 2 STL | 44.0 FPS (vs. SAC)
The sophomore wing was feeling it from long range, knocking down 7-of-11 to finish with the best scoring game of his career. With several core players sidelined, Edwards has really stepped up, averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals in his last five games.
STREAMER:
Oso Ighodaro PHX PF 15 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 36.9 FPS (vs. SAS)
The sophomore forward has been a solid part of the starting lineup over the past weeks with Williams sidelined. While his production is not elite, he still contributed positively in multiple areas. But he’s found a new gear recently, averaging 7.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.0 steals in each of his last three games while also scoring 15 points in each of his last two outings.
FLOPPER:
Miles Bridges CHA SF 11 PTS | 3 REB | 1 TO | 13.6 FPS (vs. ORL)
Bridges was very productive in his last three games, scoring 20 points twice and recording a double-double. While he struggled today, he remains more than capable of turning things around in the next games.
