Here are the top performers on January 14 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Jamal Murray DEN PG 35 PTS | 9 AST | 3 STL | 59.9 FPS (vs. NOP)
The sharpshooting guard missed their last two games with an ankle injury but came back firing, sinking five threes for the 12th time this season while tallying their 11th 30-point performance. Murray is currently in the midst of a career year, posting personal bests in points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers.
BREAKOUT:
Tre Jones CHI PG 34 PTS | 7 AST | 1 STL | 47.9 FPS (vs. HOU)
Jones has struggled to find consistency in scoring, but he was nearly flawless in this one, converting 11 of his 12 field-goal attempts for a career-best performance. His playmaking, however, has been a constant, averaging 7.6 assists over his last seven games. With Giddey still unavailable, he should continue to be the Bulls’ best option at the point guard spot.
SLEEPER:
Marcus Smart LAL PG 16 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 31.0 FPS (vs. ATL)
Over his last three games, Smart was limited to just 12 points, but he delivered today, finishing with his eighth game this season, scoring at least 13. Despite the inconsistency, he’s remained an impactful contributor, averaging 5 assists over a recent four-game stretch and posting multiple steals in each of his previous three outings.
ELITE ASSET:
LeBron James LAL SF 31 PTS | 9 REB | 10 AST | 58.8 FPS (vs. ATL)
James had some struggles early in the season, but he’s now steadily getting into top form, coming close to a triple-double for the fifth time in six games this month. The superstar forward remains an elite offensive force at 41 years old, ranking inside the top 30 in scoring this year with 22.4 points and inside the top 20 in assists with almost 7 per game.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Mark Williams PHO C 18 PTS | 14 REB | 1 STL | 38.3 FPS (vs. MIA)
This marked the fourth-consecutive game in which the center scored in double figures, after averaging just six points during a two-game stretch earlier this month. Despite the scoring surge, he has remained a consistent presence on the boards, averaging 9.2 rebounds over his last five games and ranking 22nd in the league in total rebounds this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
De’Anthony Melton GSW SG 23 PTS | 4 3PM | 2 REB | 26.9 FPS
The veteran guard has emerged as a key contributor lately, scoring at least 19 points and hitting at least 3 triples for the third time in his last four games.
STREAMER:
Caleb Love POR SG 17 PTS | 7 AST | 2 STL | 36.1 FPS (vs. GSW)
The rookie continues to make his mark offensively, scoring in double digits for the 12th straight game. While his inefficiency has been a downside, he’s compensated with some solid production in other areas, including posting a season-high in assists against the Warriors.
FLOPPER:
Kyle Kuzma MIL PF 2 PTS | 2 AST | 1 BLK | 8.0 FPS (vs. MIN)
Kuzma was a non-factor on offense, continuing his highly inconsistent play by scoring six points or fewer for the fourth time in the past two weeks, after registering three consecutive double-digit outings.
