Here are the top performers on April 23 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 37 PTS | 5 REB | 9 AST | 56.5 FPS (vs. PHX)
The reigning MVP continues to shine on the scoring end, shooting 52.0% from the field and going a perfect 9-for-9 from the line to finish as the top scorer of the day. He was equally impressive as a playmaker, recording a game-high in assists and bringing his average to 8.1 in six games this month.
BREAKOUT:
Dillon Brooks PHX SF 30 PTS | 5 3PM | 6 REB | 37.7 FPS (vs. OKC)
Through two games in the series, Brooks has taken on a significantly larger role in the offense, averaging 22.5 field goal attempts. While he scored 18 points in Game 1, he was inefficient, shooting under 30%. But he turned things around today, shooting 52.2% from the field and hitting a season-high in threes to lead the team in scoring and reach the 30-point mark for the fifth time this season.
SLEEPER:
Royce O’Neale PHX SF 16 PTS | 9 REB | 2 STL | 36.8 FPS (vs. OKC)
It has been an excellent year for the veteran, who made a name for himself as one of the top 3-and-D players in the league, finishing the season ranked inside the top 20 in threes and the top 50 in steals. He delivered on both sides today, converting 4-of-5 from deep while also matching the team-high in steals.
ELITE ASSET:
Cade Cunningham DET PG 27 PTS | 6 REB | 11 AST | 49.7 FPS (vs. ORL)
The former #1 overall pick continues to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load, following up his near 40-point performance in Game 1 with a game-high point total today. However, he was far from efficient, shooting just 1-for-6 from three and 50% from the line while committing seven turnovers. Despite the struggles, it was still a very productive outing as he also finished with double-digit assists for the third time this month.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Chet Holmgren OKC C 19 PTS | 8 REB | 4 BLK | 37.6 FPS (vs. PHX)
The third-year center was instrumental in their Game 1 win with his strong play on both ends of the floor and he carried that momentum into today’s game. Holmgren has been playing at a really high level this month, averaging 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.2 blocks over his last five outings.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Tobias Harris DET PF 16 PTS | 11 REB | 2 BLK | 41.7 FPS (vs. ORL)
Defensively, Harris delivered, finishing with a game-high in rebounds. But his impact was even more significant on offense, posting back-to-back 16-point performances. Outside of Cunningham, the forward is the only other player on the roster to score a total of 20 points so far in the series. He has yet to find his range from deep, shooting just 1-for-10 but the team will need him to keep producing at this level for them to have a chance of advancing to the next round.
STREAMER:
Ajay Mitchell OKC SG 14 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 32.5 FPS (vs. PHX)
Mitchell has been solid in both games in this series, averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals. If Williams is unavailable, then he should be in line for even stronger performances in their upcoming games.
FLOPPER:
Desmond Bane ORL SG 12 PTS | 4 REB | 2 STL | 25.8 FPS (vs. DET)
The wing has really struggled offensively in the series. After shooting just 1-for-8 from deep in Game 1, he was just as ineffective today, going 2-for-11 from the field. Despite his struggles in recent weeks, he has been mostly excellent since the break and should soon rediscover his rhythm on offense.
