Here are the top performers on March 14 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Donovan Clingan POR C 21 PTS | 15 REB | 6 BLK | 68.0 FPS (vs. UTA)
The sophomore big man has been a defensive standout all year, and he proved it again with today’s performance. He also came up big offensively, scoring at least 20 points for the seventh time this season while also recording his 27th double-double.
BREAKOUT:
Dejounte Murray NOP PG 35 PTS | 7 REB | 4 AST | 50.4 FPS (vs. HOU)
Since returning from an injury, Murray has been steady offensively, scoring at least 15 points in seven consecutive games. But he was even more impressive today, going 14-for-18 from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range to finish with his best scoring game of the season. While it may be difficult for him to sustain such efficiency, he should still continue to produce at a high level moving forward.
SLEEPER:
Mitchell Robinson NYK C 12 PTS | 22 REB | 2 BLK | 47.4 FPS (vs. IND)
Even with a limited role in the rotation, Robinson remained an elite presence in the interior, averaging 8.9 rebounds per game, which ranks just outside the top 20 this season. With Towns unavailable, he should continue to fill in and produce solid double-doubles for the time being.
ELITE ASSET:
Anthony Edwards MIN SG 42 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST | 63.1 FPS (vs. GSW)
The star guard appeared on the injury report with a knee issue, but he powered through and recorded his 10th 40-point game of the season. Aside from one off night, Edwards has otherwise been on an MVP-caliber stretch lately. Since the break, he has scored at least 34 points six times while maintaining strong all-around production.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Leonard Miller CHI SF 14 PTS | 8 REB | 2 STL| 34.1 FPS (vs. LAC)
Miller struggled offensively, but he still managed to put together a productive outing. Over his last three games, he has averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. With the Bulls likely out of the playoffs, he should be able to keep producing at this level.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Javon Small MEM PG 23 PTS | 3 AST | 2 STL | 36.1 FPS (vs. DET)
The Grizzlies have dealt with a lot of injuries this year, so Small should continue to shoulder a large offensive role. He has been up to the challenge, averaging 18.3 points, 2.5 threes, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals over his last four games.
STREAMER:
Scoot Henderson POR PG 25 PTS | 5 3PM | 5 REB | 33.5 FPS (vs. UTA)
Over his last three games, Scoot has been productive offensively, averaging 23.3 points and 4.3 triples. He clearly has the upside to be a solid scorer and should continue to deliver more performances like this for the rest of the year.
FLOPPER:
Julius Randle MIN PF 10 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL | 15.3 FPS (vs. GSW)
Randle was off to a solid start this year, but his numbers have been really disappointing since the break. He has scored fewer than 15 points eight times, and his production in other areas has continued to decline.
