Here are the top performers on April 21 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Nikola Jokic DEN C 24 PTS | 15 REB | 8 AST | 54.0 FPS (vs. MIN)
Obviously, Jokic has produced far stronger stat lines in the season compared to his performance today. Still, it’s more than enough to lead all players in both rebounds and assists. Offensively, even though he continues to struggle from three, shooting just 21% so far in the playoffs, he has still recorded his 60th game of the year with at least 20 points while also posting his 57th double-double outing.
BREAKOUT:
Jonathan Kuminga ATL PF 19 PTS | 4 REB | 2 STL | 33.3 FPS (vs. NYK)
JK stepped up in a big way, contributing across the board while also finishing as the game’s third-best scorer. While his inconsistency continues to be an issue, he’s still clearly capable of delivering at this level. In last year’s playoffs, Kuminga also showed up for the Warriors, averaging 20.8 points on 54.3% shooting in the semifinals.
SLEEPER:
Donte DiVincenzo MIN SG 16 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST | 34.4 FPS (vs. DEN)
The wing was instrumental in today’s win. Offensively, he stayed hot, shooting 4-for-7 from deep for the second consecutive game. He also elevated his play in other areas, finishing with his best marks in both rebounds and assists in a month. If he can keep producing at this level in the series, then the Wolves should have a much bigger chance of advancing.
ELITE ASSET:
Donovan Mitchell CLE SG 30 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 47.9 FPS (vs. TOR)
Throughout the regular season, Mitchell has delivered at a high level offensively, finishing 6th in total points and 11th in total threes. He continued that strong scoring form at the start of the postseason, posting back-to-back 30-point games. This is the type of performance that the team will need from him if they hope to make a deep run in the playoffs.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Sandro Mamukelashvili TOR PF 12 PTS | 10 REB | 1 STL | 28.0 FPS (vs. CLE)
The forward was limited to just 3 points in Game 1, but he bounced back today, reaching double digits in scoring for the sixth time this month. However, he is still very much capable of more, as he has shown on many occasions throughout the season. He has also been impactful in other areas, particularly on the boards, where he recorded at least eight rebounds for the third time in his last four outings.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
CJ McCollum ATL SG 32 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL | 51.6 FPS (vs. NYK)
McCollum is a proven playoff performer, and he further proved his caliber today, leading both teams in scoring while also becoming the oldest player in franchise history to record a 30-point game since 1970 (via @realapp). The veteran guard is also on a highly productive scoring stretch, averaging 29.0 points and 4.3 threes on 58.6% shooting over his last three games.
STREAMER:
Collin Murray-Boyles TOR PF 17 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 31.9 FPS (vs. CLE)
The rookie big man has emerged as one of the team’s top contributors at his position, averaging 15.5 points on 72% shooting and 5.5 rebounds through the first two games. With his recent play, he should continue to handle a significant role in the remainder of the series.
FLOPPER:
Brandon Ingram TOR SF 7 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 14.3 FPS (vs. CLE)
It was a really disappointing performance from the forward. Not only did he struggle mightily on offense, shooting just 3-for-15 from the field, but he also committed five turnovers. Still, Ingram has been an excellent starter for the Raptors this season, and performances like this have been rare.
