Here are the top performers on April 26 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Paolo Banchero ORL PF 25 PTS | 12 REB | 9 AST | 64.9 FPS (vs. DET)
The franchise star was phenomenal today, leading the Magic to a commanding 2–1 series lead. In addition to a team-high in points, Paolo also recorded game-highs in rebounds and assists while making a big impact on defense. The only issue for him was the inefficiency, but performances like this more than make up for it.
BREAKOUT:
Ayo Dosunmu MIN SG 43 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 51.3 FPS (vs. DEN)
Since moving to the Wolves, the veteran guard has quickly become an asset, averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 14 games in the season. He has remained a vital contributor this playoffs, averaging 16 points in the first three games. But he took his game to a different level today, delivering a career-high scoring performance on superb percentages. With key players sidelined, Dosunmu should continue to see a significant role on offense in Game 5.
SLEEPER:
Dilon Brooks PHX SF 33 PTS | 7 REB | 1 AST | 39.9 FPS (vs. OKC)
It has been a breakthrough year for the veteran forward offensively, as he finished the season with a career-best 20.2 points per game. Even with some inconsistency, he has shown numerous times this season that he can deliver at a high level. That was the case in his last two games, where he scored 30 points in each. The team will certainly need similar production from him in Game 4 to avoid elimination.
ELITE ASSET:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 42 PTS | 4 REB | 8 AST | 58.8 FPS (vs. PHX)
The Suns simply had no answer for the reigning MVP today. He was nearly unstoppable on offense, shooting a highly efficient 15-for-18 from the field and going 11-for-12 at the line to record his ninth 40-point game of the year and his highest scoring performance of the playoffs.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Nikola Jokic DEN C 24 PTS | 15 REB | 9 AST | 63.5 FPS (vs. MIN)
The three-time MVP continues to impress in almost every category, recording his third straight 15-rebound game today while also leading both teams in assists and providing excellent numbers on defense. Offensively, however, it just keeps getting worse. While he reached the 20-point mark again, he struggled to find his rhythm in the second half, converting only 1-for-10. He also continues to struggle from three, shooting just 5-for-27 in the series. They will definitely need him to turn things around offensively for them to have a chance of extending the series.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Karl Anthony Towns NYK C 20 PTS | 10 REB | 10 AST | 51.0 FPS (vs. ATL)
The Knicks needed a win today, and Towns made sure they got it. He was excellent from both the field and the free-throw line, finishing as the game’s second-leading scorer. He was equally impressive in other categories, posting game-highs in rebounds and assists to earn the first playoff triple-double of his career. Through four games in the series, Towns has been nothing short of sensational, averaging 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.1 stocks.
STREAMER:
Anthony Black ORL PG 8 PTS | 3 STL | 3 BLK | 28.7 FPS (vs. DET)
So far in the series, the third-year guard has delivered contrasting results on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s hit a rough patch, averaging just 6.7 points on 26% shooting. But he continues to stand out on defense, finishing with a team-high in steals and blocks today while averaging 4.0 stocks per game.
FLOPPER:
Jalen Brunson NYK PG 19 PTS | 3 AST | 1 STL | 20.5 FPS (vs. ATL)
Obviously, Brunson is one of the better players in the series and he showed exactly that in the first three games where he averaged 27.6 points on 42.2% shooting with 6.0 assists. However, he was far less productive today, hitting only 7-of-18 from the floor while committing six turnovers and adding little in other areas.
