Here are the top performers on March 27 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Jalen Duren DET C 30 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST | 61.5 FPS (vs. NOP)
The star big man continues to take charge, shooting 10-for-12 from the field and at the line to finish with his tenth 20-point outing in eleven games and also his seventh 30-point performance this season. He’s just as steady on the boards, recording his 39th game with double-digit rebounds this year. This has truly been a breakthrough season for him, emerging as one of the top centers in the league.
BREAKOUT:
DeMar DeRozan SAC SF 33 PTS | 6 REB | 11 AST | 56.7 FPS (vs. ORL)
Ever since averaging 35.7 points over a recent three-game stretch this month, the former All-Star has had a difficult time finding his offensive rhythm. But he finally got back on track today, finishing with his ninth 30-point performance of the year and his second double-double. He clearly has the pedigree for these kinds of performances, but consistency has been an issue throughout the season.
SLEEPER:
Malik Monk SAC SG 13 PTS | 5 AST | 1 BLK | 28.9 FPS (vs. ORL)
The veteran guard has been a steady part of the rotation lately, and while he has yet to establish consistency on the scoring end, he has remained highly productive. Over his previous two outings, he recorded season highs in both scoring and assists. He wasn’t as dominant today, but he was still very effective, contributing across the board.
ELITE ASSET:
Jalen Brunson NYK PG 26 PTS | 13 AST | 1 STL | 48.9 FPS (vs. CHA)
It certainly wasn’t his best offensive performance, but he still recorded his eighth 20-point game in his last nine outings and his 55th overall this season. He also made up for it with his tenth double-digit assist performance. Outside of a few off games, Brunson has maintained this level of production since the break.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Kon Knueppel CHA SF 26 PTS | 11 REB | 8 AST | 49.2 FPS (vs. NYK)
The rookie is already one of the best offensive players in the league, finishing with his 34th 20-point game of the season while continuing to lead the league in three-pointers made. He also continues to show his potential as a well-rounded contributor, recording at least five assists for the 15th time and double-digit rebounds for the sixth time this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Tobias Harris DET PF 12 PTS | 9 REB | 7 AST | 36.3 FPS (vs. NOP)
Though his scoring has been relatively modest in recent games, Harris has made up for it with consistent production in both rebounding and playmaking, averaging 6.3 boards and 5.2 assists over his last six games. With Cunningham unavailable, he should be poised for bigger performances moving forward.
STREAMER:
Daeqwon Plowden SAC SG 23 PTS | 6 3PM | 3 REB | 26.6 FPS (vs. ORL)
This marked his third consecutive 20-point performance and his fourth straight with at least three three-pointers made. With multiple injuries in the King’s backcourt, Plowden has emerged as a key contributor lately and should continue to do so in the coming games.
FLOPPER:
Karl-Anthony Towns NYK C 13 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST | 18.6 FPS (vs. CHA)
Towns has been a consistent double-double force throughout the month, but he couldn’t sustain that production today, turning in one of his worst games of the season. While he still has these kinds of games from time to time, it has otherwise been a strong season for him.
