Here are the top performers on April 4 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Cooper Flagg DAL SF 51 PTS | 6 REB | 3 STL | 73.7 FPS (vs. ORL)
The Mavs forward had hit a rough patch offensively in his last two games, but he completely turned it around in historic fashion today, shooting efficiently from all levels and becoming the first teenager in league history to drop 50 points. While he clearly stands out as a high-level offensive player, he’s also quietly established himself as one of the league’s most complete players, ranking inside the top 50 in four other major statistical categories this season.
BREAKOUT:
Jeremiah Fears NOP PG 28 PTS | 8 REB | 6 AST | 45.6 FPS (vs. SAC)
The rookie guard delivered offensively, shooting 50% from the field and knocking down five threes to match his career high while also recording his 14th 20-point game of the season. With the way he has played this year, he should be able to keep producing at a high level in the final games and further solidify his place as a core piece of the team for years to come.
SLEEPER:
Mitchell Robinson NYK C 17 PTS | 11 REB | 2 STL | 39.2 FPS (vs. CHI)
Robinson moved into the starting lineup today with Towns unavailable and rose to the occasion, recording double-digit rebounds for the 24th time this season while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. Even in limited minutes, he has remained one of the league’s best rebounders and should be just as productive in their remaining games.
ELITE ASSET:
Jayson Tatum BOS PF 23 PTS | 11 REB | 9 AST | 56.7 FPS (vs. MIL)
Given the severity of his injury, Tatum’s return was already impressive, as he scored around the 20-point mark while maintaining solid rebounding numbers in his first nine games of the season. But he has taken his game to another level over his last four, averaging 26.5 points, 3.8 threes, 11.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Neemias Queta BOS C 19 PTS | 10 REB | 4 BLK | 46.0 FPS (vs. MIL)
Queta has developed into one of the best defensive big men in the league this year, ranking 11th in rebounds and 13th in blocks. He further proved his place in his last two games, racking up a double-double in each while averaging 3.5 blocks. He’s been a strong starter and a big part of the Celtics’ campaign this season and he has done more than enough to be considered in the Most Improved Player award.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
GG Jackson II MEM PF 30 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK | 36.5 FPS (vs. TOR)
The third-year big man has shouldered a much larger role in the second half of the season with the Grizzlies dealing with so many injuries. He’s taken full advantage, averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds in each of the past two months and establishing himself as one of the team’s most reliable contributors. Though his overall game is lacking, his offensive upside is undeniable, reaching the 20-point mark ten times and finishing with his best scoring performance of the year.
STREAMER:
Nolan Traore BKN PG 12 PTS | 4 AST | 3 STL | 31.4 FPS (vs. ATL)
The rookie guard has emerged as an important piece for the Nets in the latter half of the season, showcasing strong potential for his position. With only a few games remaining, he’ll look to keep building his case for a role in the team’s long-term plans. He has done just that lately, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 assists and 2.0 steals over his last four games.
FLOPPER:
Anthony Edwards MIN SG 8 PTS | 3 AST | 2 STL | 21.9 FPS (vs. PHI)
Edwards was back in the lineup today after missing seven of his last eight games because of a knee injury. However, he couldn’t make much of an impact, particularly on the scoring end, where he shot just 3-for-15 from the field—including missing all seven attempts from deep. Despite that, the star guard has been stellar for most of the year and should eventually rediscover his rhythm. He’s currently averaging a career-best 29.3 points per game, which is also the third-most in the league while maintaining superb shooting percentages.
