Here are the top players on January 6 and the stats to highlight their impact:
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Tyrese Maxey PHI PG 28 PTS | 6 AST | 4 STL | 61.2 FPS (vs. DEN)
Maxey continues his MVP-level play this season, dropping at least 27 points for the ninth time in his last ten games while averaging 4.5 three-pointers over his last four. He’s been one of the league’s best all-around players and should keep his momentum going as the Sixers push for the postseason.
BREAKOUT:
Brandon Miller CHA SF 28 PTS | 7 3PM | 6 REB | 45.7 FPS (vs. OKC)
Miller started the season struggling with injuries and inconsistency, but he’s steadily elevated his play lately, scoring 28+ points for the third time in his last five and hitting a season-best in threes to lead the Hornets to a dominant win against the best team in the league.
SLEEPER:
John Collins LAC PF 18 PTS | 4 REB | 3 BLK | 30.3 FPS (vs. GSW)
Collins has been a solid contributor off the bench this season, but he’s been operating on a whole different level over his last eight games. Offensively, he’s shot 45-for-68 from the floor, averaging 15.3 points and adding 2 threes per game. He’s also made a big defensive impact, recording 3+ stocks in five of those games.
ELITE ASSET:
Jalen Johnson ATL SF 13 PTS | 14 REB | 7 AST | 40.3 FPS (vs. TOR)
Johnson contributed across the board, but he wasn’t very efficient today, going 0-for-4 from three and finishing with his lowest scoring game in his last ten while recording 6 or more turnovers for the sixth time this year. Still, he finished with his 25th double-double and his 31st 5-assist outing of the season.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Donovan Clingan POR C 12 PTS | 17 REB | 3 BLK | 40.4 FPS (vs. UTA)
The sophomore center made an undeniable impact today, notching his fifth double-double in six games in the first half alone. He continues to be one of the best defenders in the league this season, ranking 5th in total rebounds and 15th in total blocks.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Anfernee Simons BOS SG 27 PTS | 8 3PM | 3 AST | 32.1 FPS (vs. CHI)
This has been a difficult year for the guard, who’s averaging just 13.5 points per game after scoring at least 19 points in each of his previous three seasons. He also had a bad start today, finishing with 0 points in the first half. But he turned it around in the second and notched his best scoring performance of the season. Despite the struggles, he also appears to be finding his groove lately, putting up 19 points per game over his last four contests.
STREAMER:
Ayo Dosunmu CHI SG 15 PTS | 5 AST | 1 BLK | 29.1 FPS (vs. BOS)
Dosunmu struggled early, but he flipped the switch in the second half and posted his fifth consecutive outing with double-digit points and at least 8 RA. With the Bulls still missing two key players in the backcourt, Dosunmu should remain a significant part of the rotation and also maintain his production.
FLOPPER:
Karl Anthony Towns NYK C 6 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST | 2.7 FPS (vs. DET)
It was a very disappointing performance from the big man, who was not only ineffective on offense but also a non-factor in other areas despite going up against an undermanned Pistons team. He also finished with his fourth game under 10 points this season, along with a season-worst six turnovers.
