BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
LeBron James LAL SF 30 PTS | 8 REB | 8 AST | 59.6 FPS (vs. NOP)
The superstar forward may not be as explosive this season, recording his second-worst scoring average and lowest rebounding output in 23 years. But he’s looked like his vintage self in January, pouring in 29 points per game with 8 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the Lakers to three-straight wins.
BREAKOUT:
Trey Murphy III NOP SF 42 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 52.5 FPS (vs. LAL)
Murphy caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 20 points and finishing with the best scoring performance of his career. He’s a very capable offensive player and has now recorded nine games this year with five made threes and seven with at least 27 points. He currently ranks 23rd in the league in total points and 11th in total three-pointers made this season.
SLEEPER:
Bilal Coulibaly WAS SF 14 PTS | 8 REB | 5 STL | 41.1 FPS (vs. ORL)
Since returning from injuries, the forward has taken his game to another level, averaging close to 13 points and 6.6 rebounds in eight games. He’s been even more impressive on defense, putting up 3.6 stocks over his last seven and ranking inside the top 20 in steals this season.
ELITE ASSET:
Anthony Edwards MIN SG 26 PTS | 5 REB | 2 BLK | 42.5 FPS
One of the most talented scorers in the league, Edwards put on a show again today, posting at least 25 points for the 22nd time this season, including in seven of his last eight, while knocking down five threes for the 12th time.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Kel’el Ware MIA C 7 PTS | 11 REB | 1 BLK | 25.2 FPS
The sophomore center continues to stand out defensively, posting his 19th 10-rebound game of the season. He’s currently the second-best rebounder in the league with a total of 393 rebounds, while also ranking 12th in total blocks.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Andrew Nembhard IND SG 15 PTS | 11 AST | 1 STL | 35.7 FPS (vs. CLE)
This season has been brutal for the Pacers, as they continue to struggle and remain the worst team in the league. Despite that, Nembhard has been one of the few bright spots, delivering reliable contributions at the point guard spot. Over the last two weeks, he’s posted three double-doubles and averaged close to 17 points and 8.2 assists in nine games.
STREAMER:
Craig Porter Jr. CLE SG 8 PTS | 9 REB | 9 AST | 43.3 FPS (vs. IND)
Despite some inconsistency in offense, Porter has remained productive with contributions across the board. He delivered again today, nearly posting a triple-double and recording his sixth five-assist game of the year. But his biggest impact lately has come on defense, where he’s averaging 6.3 rebounds over his last seven games and 3.3 stocks over his last four.
FLOPPER:
Paolo Banchero ORL PF 14 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST | 20.8 FPS (vs. WAS)
Banchero had been on an incredible run over his previous four games, averaging 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. But he couldn’t match that level against the Wizards, finishing with 15 points or fewer for just the seventh time this season.
