Here are the top performers on May 6 and the stats to highlight their impact:
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Chet Holmgren OKC C 24 PTS | 12 REB | 3 BLK | 51.9 FPS (vs. LAL)
The big man was a force everywhere on the court and nearly put up a line similar to the one he had in Game 4 against the Suns. With that, he upped his total to nine 20-point double-doubles this year. If he can maintain this level of play moving forward, the Thunder will surely become much harder to beat.
BREAKOUT:
Duncan Robinson DET SF 19 PTS | 2 AST | 2 STL | 28.0 FPS (vs. CLE)
The forward stepped up in a big way today, scoring 13 points in the second half to set a new playoff scoring high and help keep the Cavs at bay. With limited scoring threats in the lineup, the Pistons will remain heavily reliant on Robinson going forward, and he’s been up to the task so far, averaging 11.4 points and three threes per game.
SLEEPER:
Marcus Smart LAL PG 12 PTS | 7 AST | 4 STL | 37.3 FPS (vs. OKC)
Except for his percentages, this was a solid performance from the Lakers guard and an improvement over the last two games. He was impressive on both ends, leading the team in assists and steals. However, for the Lakers to steal a win against the Thunder, they’ll need him to rediscover his offensive rhythm like he displayed in Games 2 and 3 against the Rockets.
ELITE ASSET:
LeBron James LAL SF 27 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST | 41.8 FPS (vs. OKC)
There’s not much to ask after this performance from the veteran. He came out strong offensively, scoring 12 points in the first quarter and finishing 12-for-17 from the field to lead all players in scoring while also making a strong impact in other areas. But for the Lakers to have a chance of winning this series, James will need to consistently produce at this level in the games ahead.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Cason Wallace OKC SG 5 PTS | 4 REB | 3 STL | 22.8 FPS (vs. LAL)
The shooting guard was productive today in almost every category. But he stood out the most on the defensive end, averaging 2.2 steals per game which is the highest mark on the team. While they don’t necessarily need it, he’ll be even more impactful if he can produce at a higher level on the scoring end.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Rui Hachimura LAL PF 18 PTS | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 28.4 FPS (vs. OKC)
Through their first five games, the forward has been a reliable scoring option for the Lakers, averaging close to 15 points. But he has looked even better over his last two outings, averaging 19.5 points and four threes. With Luka still unavailable, the Lakers will certainly need more of these performances from Hachimura.
STREAMER:
Isaiah Hartenstein OKC C 8 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 30.8 FPS (vs. LAL)
The Thunder big man had an impressive first-round performance against the Suns, where he averaged close to a double-double on a highly efficient 71% shooting. He carried that momentum into today’s game, finishing second in the team in rebounding and delivering a flawless overall showing.
FLOPPER:
Jarrett Allen CLE C 2 PTS | 3 REB | 1 BLK | 9.1 FPS (vs. DET)
This performance was a bit of a shock, considering how well he played in Game 7 of their first-round win. Not only did he match his playoff low in rebounds for the third time, but he also recorded his worst scoring output of the year. Though he’s had some noticeable struggles in the playoffs, he’s still likely to have much better games moving forward.
