Here are the top performers on May 13 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 27 PTS | 17 REB | 3 BLK | 59.9 FPS (vs. MIN)
Ejected in Game 4, the franchise star responded in an emphatic way today, exploding for 18 points and 6 rebounds in the first quarter alone. He finished the first half with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, becoming just the third player in franchise history to reach that mark in a playoff half. Excluding Game 4, Wemby has been dominant throughout the series, averaging 24.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 5 blocks, and he should be able to carry that same impact into Game 6.
BREAKOUT:
Ayo Dosunmu MIN SG 16 PTS | 9 REB | 3 STL | 45.8 FPS (vs. SAS)
Even though Dosunmu hasn’t been at his best offensively since returning from injury, he has more than made up for it with a steady and well-rounded performance. Today, however, he took his game even further, posting a series high in points and a playoff high in rebounds while standing out on defense. His two-way play will surely make a big difference if he can keep it up in Game 6.
SLEEPER:
Keldon Johnson SAS SF 21 PTS | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 30.4 FPS (vs. MIN)
Johnson has had an excellent year, averaging 13.2 points on 51.9% shooting. But he has struggled to carry that over into the playoffs, averaging 7.3 points through nine games. Today, however, he rose to the occasion, shooting 8-of-11 from the field to finish with a new playoff career-high.
ELITE ASSET:
Stephon Castle SAS PG 17 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL | 35.8 FPS (vs. MIN)
The sophomore guard, once again, had a fantastic performance, providing solid contributions across the board. Still, his biggest impact came from the scoring end, where he converted 8-of-10 from two-point range. Throughout the series, Castle has consistently contributed in plenty of ways and the only downsides were the turnovers and foul trouble.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
De’Aaron Fox SAS PG 18 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 29.3 FPS (vs. MIN)
Since scoring 10 points in Game 1, Fox has turned it around offensively, averaging 18.8 points per game. Still, his struggles are undeniable, as he has shot 40% or worse from the field and gone 3-for-16 from deep over the last three games. In terms of playmaking, he has remained productive, averaging 4.3 assists during that span.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Julius Randle MIN PF 17 PTS | 10 REB | 1 AST | 30.5 FPS (vs. SAS)
Though Randle finished with a solid overall output, his performance was far from efficient. Through three quarters, he couldn’t really get anything going, scoring eight points on a dismal 2-for-12 shooting. Still, this was an improvement after struggling for the most part of the series.
STREAMER:
Dylan Harper SAS SG 12 PTS | 10 REB | 1 BLK | 31.0 FPS (vs. MIN)
The rookie guard was listed on the injury report today with a knee injury, but he played through it and came up huge. Harper contributed positively in almost every category, especially in the boards, where he had five offensive rebounds. Through five games in this series, Harper has been dependable, averaging 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per outing.
FLOPPER:
Anthony Edwards MIN SG 20 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST | 21.4 FPS (vs. SAS)
Obviously, Edwards was far from his usual standard today but he still contributed on offense, shooting just below the 50% mark while going 7-for-7 at the line. Through three road games in this series, however, he has mostly underwhelmed, averaging just 16.7 points and 2.7 rebounds. But he should be able to turn things around at home, much like he did in Games 3 and 4.
