Here are the top performers on June 11 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Jalen Brunson NYK PG 36 PTS | 5 REB | 7 AST | 58.5 FPS
This was easily his best game of the Finals. Offensively, he has been a problem for the Spurs all series, but he elevated his game even further today, shooting nearly 50% from the field and going 9-for-11 from the line for his highest-scoring output of the matchup. Elsewhere, he also impacted the game at a high level, tallying series highs in rebounds and assists while recording his fewest turnovers of the series.
BREAKOUT:
OG Anunoby NYK SF 33 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 44.3 FPS
Throughout the game, Anunoby was steady on the offensive end. He started strong, scoring 14 points in the first half before catching fire in the third quarter, where he exploded for 11 points while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. He also delivered again in the fourth, knocking down two threes to bring his team back into the game before ultimately sealing the victory with a game-winning tip-in. Through four games of the Finals, he has been in tremendous form, and the Spurs must find a way to slow him down in Game 5.
SLEEPER:
Josh Hart NYK SG 8 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 28.6 FPS
Outside of scoring, Hart was really impressive in Game 4, finishing second on the team in both rebounds and assists while also making a positive impact defensively. For much of this series, Hart has been ineffective offensively, but he’s still capable of stepping up, as he showed in Game 3. If he’s able to do that again in the next game, the Spurs could be in some trouble.
ELITE ASSET:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 24 PTS | 13 REB | 3 BLK | 50.1 FPS
This was a signature performance from the Spurs’ superstar as he finished with a team-high in points while also recording a game-high in rebounds. However, his struggles on the offensive end were undeniable, as he shot just 9-for-25 from the field, including 2-for-8 from three. Still, nothing was more costly than his performance from the line, where he went 4-for-7, including missing two crucial free throws late in the game. Wemby will need to be much better in Game 5 if they want to stay alive in this series.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
De’Aaron Fox SAS PG 18 PTS | 5 REB | 7 AST | 39.5 FPS
Fox bounced back from his lackluster shooting performance in Game 3, finishing with a complete stat line today while also matching the game-high mark in assists. His impact was felt most in the second quarter, when he took control of the offense, recording 8 points and 5 assists. Despite the strong start, Fox still finished poorly, making several crucial errors with the game on the line. The Spurs will definitely need him at his absolute best if they want to turn this series around.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Devin Vassell SAS SG 18 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 32.0 FPS
This was another quality game from the Spurs’ wing. Offensively, he set the tone early, scoring 12 points and hitting all three of his attempts from deep in the first quarter. Unfortunately, he went completely silent afterward, scoring just six points across the middle quarters before finishing scoreless in the fourth. Still, Vassell has been highly reliable throughout this series, and he should be able to bring the same impact in Game 5.
STREAMER:
Dylan Harper SAS SG 21 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 27.3 FPS
The rookie once again came up big for the Spurs. Offensively, he stood out, pouring in 13 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting in the second quarter. Though he couldn’t maintain that form in the second half, he still had a fantastic game overall, finishing second on the team in scoring and recording his highest-scoring game in almost a month.
FLOPPER:
Julian Champagnie SAS SF 5 REB | 3 AST | 4 STL | 27.5 FPS
On the whole, this was a strong performance for Champagnie. He was especially impressive on defense, where he posted a game-high and playoff-high in steals. Offensively, however, he underwhelmed, shooting just 1-for-7 from three and posting his worst scoring output of the series. Clearly, his shooting will be significant if the Spurs hope to avoid elimination in Game 5.
