Here are the top performers on January 13 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Luka Doncic LAL PG 42 PTS | 8 AST | 4 STL | 70.4 FPS (vs. SAC)
Doncic had an explosive start, pouring in 26 points in the first half and recording 40 by the third quarter. However, he was limited to only 2 points in the final period. Still, he finished with an excellent all-around line, posting his seventh 40-point game of the season and his seventh-straight game with at least 8 assists.
BREAKOUT:
Malik Monk SAC SG 26 PTS | 7 3PM | 8 AST | 40.2 FPS (vs. LAL)
The guard delivered his best scoring performance of the season, looking unstoppable as he poured in 18 points in the second quarter alone and finished 7-for-9 from the three-point area. After receiving no playing time on multiple occasions last month, Monk has worked his way back into the rotation over the past three games and is beginning to find his rhythm.
SLEEPER:
Jay Huff IND C 20 PTS | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 33.6 FPS (vs. BOS)
The big man continues to make a name for himself on defense, leading the league in total blocks and posting at least three stocks in each of his last three games. While he hasn’t been very effective on the boards, he has compensated on offense, scoring 20 points and hitting 4 threes for the second time in his last four games.
ELITE ASSET:
James Harden LAC PG 32 PTS | 10 AST | 4 STL | 62.8 FPS (vs. CHA)
Harden turned in another solid scoring performance, recording his 11th straight game with at least 18 points and his 10th 30-point outing of the season while also making history by climbing to the No. 9 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He also shined in other areas, adding his 11th double-digit assist game of the year, along with his third consecutive game with at least three stocks.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Day’Ron Sharpe BKN C 14 PTS | 12 REB | 1 BLK | 29.4 FPS (vs. DAL)
The center has become a dependable force on defense, averaging 9.1 rebounds in his last seven games and tallying multiple steals five times in that span.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Darius Garland CLE PG 23 PTS | 8 AST | 3 STL | 46.4 FPS (vs. UTA)
DG hasn’t been as consistent this season, averaging 17.9 points—his lowest mark in the last five seasons. However, he is steadily trending in the right direction, scoring 20-plus points three times in his last four games while registering at least six assists in eight straight games.
STREAMER:
Naji Marshall DAL SF 22 PTS | 9 AST | 3 STL | 50.3 FPS (vs. BKN)
Despite some inconsistency this season, the forward remains highly capable of these kinds of performances. He finished with his fifth 20-point outing of the year, along with a season-best in assists and his second consecutive game with 3 steals. With the Mavericks dealing with a number of injuries, he should continue to be one of the team’s top contributors.
FLOPPER:
John Collins LAC PF 3 PTS | 5 REB | 1 AST | 9.5 FPS (vs. CHA)
In his past few games, Collins has been on a tear, averaging nearly 20 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.2 stocks. But he turned in a very disappointing effort today, finishing with his second-worst scoring game of the season while also making little impact in other areas.
