Here are the top performers on June 6 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 29 PTS | 9 REB | 4 BLK | 56.8 FPS
In the first half, Wemby was relatively quiet, posting just seven points. But he turned his game around in the second half—especially in the fourth quarter, where he scored 10 points to help his team get back into the game. But the biggest issue today was turnovers; he finished with four, including a costly one where he threw the ball off Castle’s back with the game on the line. Regardless, Wemby has continued to play at an elite level in this series and should eventually find a way to lead his team to a win.
BREAKOUT:
De’Aaron Fox SAS PG 20 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 33.1 FPS
Though Fox struggled badly in Game 1, he rebounded in a big way today. He started hot, knocking down 4-of-5 from the field for nine points in the opening period, already surpassing his Game 1 scoring total. He also finished strong, posting his best scoring performance in his last seven games. With the Spurs trailing 0-2 in the series, his production will be crucial if they hope to turn things around.
SLEEPER:
Mikal Bridges NYK SF 20 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 38.2 FPS
Limited to just nine points in their Game 1 win, Bridges responded in a major way today. After a slow start in the first quarter, he took control over the next two quarters, finishing with his fourth 20-point game of the playoffs while setting playoff highs with four three-pointers and a game-high in assists.
ELITE ASSET:
Karl Anthony-Towns NYK C 21 PTS | 13 REB | 4 AST | 46.6 FPS
Towns continues to be a force in this series, scoring efficiently from all levels and posting his fifth 20-point outing of the playoffs while also recording his third straight double-double. He was particularly impressive in the second quarter, where he erupted for 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting. Certainly, Towns has been a big reason why the Knicks are up 2-0 in this series, and they will need to keep producing at this level moving forward.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Jalen Brunson NYK PG 20 PTS | 6 AST | 5 STL | 46.0 FPS
On offense, Brunson hasn’t been at his best in this series. After struggling through much of Game 1, he had another difficult outing today, recording more shot attempts (25) than points and shooting just 2-for-8 from three. Even so, Brunson has continued to step up when they needed him, scoring seven points in the fourth to help his team secure the win.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
OG Anunoby NYK SF 17 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 38.3 FPS
Throughout the playoffs, the forward has been a major asset for the Knicks. Recently, however, he’s been much more impressive. He’s scored at least 17 points in each of his last four games while shooting 49% from the field, 45% from three, and going a perfect 19-for-19 from the line. Today, he also excelled on the defensive end, finishing with a superb all-around performance.
STREAMER:
Devin Vassell SAS SG 14 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST | 35.3 FPS
Offensively, Vassell had a difficult time finding his rhythm, shooting just 1-for-6 from long range in Game 1. However, he returned to his usual standard today, hitting three three-pointers for his 18th double-digit scoring game of the playoffs. He also made a much bigger impact, tying the team-high marks in both rebounds and assists.
FLOPPER:
Josh Hart NYK SG 6 REB | 4 AST | 1 BLK | 17.2 FPS
Though Hart wasn’t nearly as effective as he was in Game 1, he still left his mark, contributing positively in many ways. Offensively, however, things have been really bad for him. Through two games in this series, he’s shot a dismal 1-for-9 from the field while struggling with foul troubles.
