Here are the top performers on March 18 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 40 PTS | 5 REB | 4 STL | 58.0 FPS (vs. ORL)
Though he had his least productive game as a playmaker, SGA remained highly effective on offense, scoring at least 35 points for the third time in his last four games while also recording his sixth 40-point game of the season, tying Brown for the third most in the league. Defensively, he’s been just as steady, averaging 3.2 stocks over his last five games.
BREAKOUT:
Josh Hart NYK SG 33 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 52.9 FPS (vs. IND)
Hart completely took over with Brunson sidelined, finishing with a season-best performance. He was highly efficient on offense, missing just one shot from the field while going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. That level of efficiency will be hard to replicate, but he remains capable of contributing across multiple areas, including scoring, as he recorded at least 20 points for the seventh time this season.
SLEEPER:
Bobby Portis MIL PF 19 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 37.8 FPS (vs. CLE)
The versatile forward has been playing at a really high level lately, averaging close to 20 points with 3.6 threes and 8.0 rebounds over his last five games. With several key players sidelined, the Bucks will have to rely heavily on Portis for the time being.
ELITE ASSET:
Evan Mobley CLE PF 27 PTS | 15 REB | 3 BLK | 57.0 FPS (vs. MIL)
Despite some struggles from the free-throw line and the three-point area, Mobley continues to deliver strongly on offense, scoring at least 18 points for the sixth time in his last seven while also coming close to the 30-point mark twice. But he remains more dependable on defense, averaging 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his last five games.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
TJ McConnell IND PG 10 PTS | 3 REB | 10 AST | 26.6 FPS (vs. NYK)
McConnell has been dealing with a hamstring injury all year, but he’s still playing at a high level, averaging 9.7 points and 9.0 assists over his last three games. If he remains available, he should continue to be just as effective moving forward.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Will Riley WAS SF 21 PTS | 3 REB | 2 STL | 32.1 FPS (vs. DET)
Riley has hit a rough patch lately, but he’s gotten back on track over his last two games, scoring 21 points in each and finishing with at least 18 points for the eighth time in the past three weeks. He’s been a significant part of the rotation during that span and should remain just as productive for the rest of the season.
STREAMER:
Daniss Jenkins DET PG 15 PTS | 7 AST | 2 STL | 35.9 FPS (vs. WAS)
Jenkins started in the second half in place of Cunningham, who left the game early due to a back problem. He was solid in just 21 minutes, filling up the stat sheet. He’s had a few performances like this when there are injuries and he should be able to keep producing at this level while the team is shorthanded.
FLOPPER:
Jalen Green PHX SG 9 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 25.7 FPS (vs. MIN)
Green contributed in many areas, but his offensive performance is hard to overlook. He shot just 3-for-17 from the field and finished under the 10-point mark for the third time since last month. He’s struggled from three lately, but he’s been mostly solid overall and should be able to bounce back in the games ahead.
