Here are the top performers on April 5 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 34 PTS | 18 REB | 5 BLK | 83.1 FPS (vs. DEN)
The third-year superstar missed his last game against the Clippers, but he was back in the lineup today and continued his dominance, recording his 17th 30-point outing of the season while also posting at least 15 rebounds for the sixth consecutive game. Wemby has been highly productive throughout the year, but even more so in recent weeks, and he should stay locked in for the final stretch of the season.
BREAKOUT:
Kel’el Ware MIA C 24 PTS | 19 REB | 7 BLK | 69.8 FPS (vs. WAS)
Playing time has been a major issue in recent games, limiting his impact on the floor. However, Ware saw plenty of action today and took full advantage, finishing with one of the best games of his career. He was stellar on both ends, recording his eighth 20-point game and third 19-rebound outing of the season while also tying his career high in blocks.
SLEEPER:
Cameron Johnson DEN PF 17 PTS | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 36.1 FPS (vs. SAS)
Though Johnson has had trouble sustaining consistency this season, he appears to be turning a corner, scoring in double figures in 11 of his last 13 games. His last two games have been even more encouraging, averaging 18.0 points, 3.5 threes, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 stocks. With the playoffs approaching, this improvement couldn’t have come at a better time.
ELITE ASSET:
Nikola Jokic DEN C 40 PTS | 8 REB | 13 AST | 78.1 FPS (vs. SAS)
The Joker keeps filling up the stat-sheet, leading all players in scoring with his fifth 40-point game of the season. He was equally impressive as a playmaker, dishing out 10+ assists for the 40th time this year, which is the most in the league. This also marked his seventh straight double-double performance, extending his total to 53, which is also the highest this season.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Ausar Thompson DET SF 14 PTS | 5 REB | 3 STL | 31.0 FPS (vs. PHI)
Thompson delivered on offense today, reaching double figures for the first time in five games. While he’s not much of a scoring threat, his impact as an all-around player has been consistent. Over his last four games, he has averaged 8.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Pelle Larsson MIA SG 16 PTS | 7 REB | 4 AST | 30.4 FPS (vs. WAS)
Larsson has been a vital part of the team’s rotation in the past months. While his scoring has been mostly modest, he has continued to make a strong impact with contributions in multiple areas. But he’s elevated his game in his last three outings, averaging 18.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
STREAMER:
Will Riley WAS SF 31 PTS | 5 REB | 5 STL | 52.0 FPS (vs. MIA)
The rookie has been on an excellent offensive run lately, averaging 18.6 points over his last five outings, but he raised his game even higher today, converting 12-of-17 from the field to notch the best scoring game of his career. Riley should continue to see a significant role for the team in its remaining games and should be just as productive.
FLOPPER:
Kelly Oubre PHI SF 3 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL | 11.3 FPS (vs. DET)
The forward was coming off a 21-point performance in the team’s win over the Wolves, but he was ineffective today, turning in one of his least productive games of the season. He’s had several strong stretches throughout the year, though injuries have made it difficult for him to maintain consistency.
