Here are the top performers on April 16 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Andre Drummond PHI C 14 PTS | 10 REB | 3 BLK | 47.0 FPS (vs. ORL)
In the absence of Embiid, Drummond has continued to step up, delivering his third straight double-double and his 28th game this year with double-digit rebounds. He was just as impressive on defense, notching six stocks. In his last two games against the Celtics this season, he dominated, posting a double-double in each. That production will be crucial for the team in the first round.
BREAKOUT:
Kristaps Porzingis GSW C 20 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 41.5 FPS (vs. LAC)
Porzingis came up big for the Warriors, filling up the stat sheet while also delivering on offense. After shooting under 40% in each of his last three games and averaging just 10.7 points, he completely turned it around today, shooting 5-for-6 from two-point range while also hitting 3 three-pointers for his 12th 20-point game of the year.
SLEEPER:
Draymond Green GSW PF 6 REB | 9 AST | 4 STL | 36.7 FPS (vs. LAC)
This was the type of performance the team was hoping to see from Green. While his scoring was modest, he made up for it with strong contributions across the board. He was solid in rebounding and also finished with a team-high in assists. But his biggest impact still came on defense, finishing with a season-high in steals while also limiting Kawhi to just 2 points in the fourth quarter.
ELITE ASSET:
Tyrese Maxey PHI PG 31 PTS | 6 AST | 1 BLK | 45.4 FPS (vs. ORL)
The star guard has emerged as one of the best scorers in the league this year, ranking fifth with 28.4 points per game. He showcased that again today, reaching the 30-point mark for the 29th time this season while also leading all players in scoring. He also continues to deliver as a playmaker after finishing the season 12th in the league in total assists.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
VJ Edgecombe PHI SG 19 PTS | 11 REB | 1 STL | 32.7 FPS (vs. ORL)
The rookie wing came up big in his first postseason game, finishing with a game-high in rebounds while also having a solid showing from the two-point area. Overall, it has been an excellent year for Edgecombe, averaging 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals and he should be able to keep producing at this level in the first round of the Playoffs.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Stephen Curry GSW PG 35 PTS | 7 3PM | 4 AST | 42.2 FPS (vs. LAC)
Since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games, Curry has remained a dependable offensive option, averaging 20.25 points in the closing stretch of the regular season. He elevated his game even further today, shooting efficiently from all areas to lead all players in scoring. This marked his 15th 30-point outing of the year, and he should be in line for another in the next round of the Play-In Tournament.
STREAMER:
Wendell Carter Jr. ORL C 5 PTS | 11 REB | 2 BLK | 28.7 FPS (vs. PHI)
Despite his inconsistency on offense, the big man is still capable of producing in that area and has shown it since the break. However, he’s struggled in recent games, scoring five points or fewer in three of his last four outings. Still, he has remained an impactful contributor, averaging 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over that span.
FLOPPER:
Paolo Banchero ORL PF 18 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 27.0 FPS (vs. PHI)
This was a disappointing performance for the forward, to put it mildly. Offensively, he struggled to find a rhythm, shooting 4-for-17 over the last three quarters and finishing 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. To make matters worse, he committed a game-high six turnovers. While inefficiency has been a significant concern lately, he has still managed to produce solid numbers in recent outings. However, the team will need him to be more efficient if they want to make it to the Playoffs.
