Here are the top performers on April 22 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Alperen Sengun HOU C 20 PTS | 11 REB | 4 STL | 57.7 FPS (vs. LAL)
Sengun produced a complete stat line in Game 1 and followed it up with an even stronger showing today. He particularly stood out on defense, where he led all players in rebounds while also piling up stocks. The star big man should remain a threat for these types of performances and should also be in line for stronger scoring outputs as the series moves forward.
BREAKOUT:
Scoot Henderson POR PG 31 PTS | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 36.2 FPS (vs. SAS)
The former third overall pick stepped up in a huge way today, helping the Blazers secure a major upset win. He completely took over on the scoring end, knocking down five threes and shooting 11-for-17 from the field to finish as the game’s leading scorer while posting his best scoring performance of the season.
SLEEPER:
Marcus Smart LAL PG 25 PTS | 7 AST | 5 STL | 52.9 FPS (vs. HOU)
The former Defensive Player of the Year was instrumental in their Game 1 win, providing significant impact on both ends of the floor. But he elevated his scoring even further today, hitting five threes and shooting 61% from the field to finish second in the game in scoring. While he may not sustain this level of production moving forward, he should continue to be a vital contributor in the games ahead.
ELITE ASSET:
LeBron James LAL SF 28 PTS | 8 REB | 7 AST | 48.1 FPS (vs. HOU)
It wasn’t the most efficient performance, but the King still made a big mark, leading all players in scoring while also posting team highs in rebounds and assists. Over his last six games, he’s been nothing short of dominant, averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 10.7 assists.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Luke Kennard LAL SG 23 PTS | 6 REB | 3 STL | 40.2 FPS (vs. HOU)
The Lakers were without two of their top scorers due to injuries, resulting in a much larger offensive role for Kennard. He’s risen to the challenge, posting back-to-back 20-point games while shooting an impressive 60% from the field. The Lakers will need a similar performance from him in their next games as the series shifts to the road.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
VJ Edgecombe PHI SG 30 PTS | 10 REB | 2 STL | 49.0 FPS (vs. BOS)
Edgecombe bounced back from an underwhelming performance in Game 1, with one of his best games of the season. He was locked in from long range, converting 6-of-10 to finish with his fourth 30-point outing of the year while also posting his seventh 10-rebound game.
STREAMER:
Robert Williams POR C 11 PTS | 9 REB | 2 BLK | 36.8 FPS (vs. SAS)
The big man made his presence felt on both sides of the floor. Offensively, he continues to be effective, posting consecutive double-digit scoring games while going 10-for-13 from the field. Defensively, he recorded his best rebounding and defensive numbers of the postseason.
FLOPPER:
Derrick White BOS SG 8 PTS | 3 AST | 2 BLK | 17.9 FPS (vs. PHI)
While White continues to be an impactful player capable of contributing in a number of ways, his scoring struggles remain a major concern. This season, he has shot just 39.4% from the field and 32.7% from three, both his worst marks in the last four years. He carried that into his first two postseason games, shooting just 31% from the field and 23.5% from deep while averaging only 9.0 points.
