Here are the top performers on February 8 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Stephon Castle SAS PG 40 PTS | 12 REB | 12 AST | 78.4 FPS (vs. DAL)
The sophomore guard has been a steady multi-category force this year, even with some offensive struggles. But he was on a whole different level today, finishing with a career-high in scoring while also becoming just the second player in league history to record a 40-point triple-double while shooting at 75%.
BREAKOUT:
Marvin Bagley DAL PF 16 PTS | 12 REB | 4 BLK | 48.4 FPS (vs. SAS)
Bagley proved his value as a solid backup center for the Wizards this year, averaging 10 points and close to six rebounds per game. Now with the Mavericks, who have been shorthanded in the interior for most of the season, he should see even more opportunities to be productive down the stretch.
SLEEPER:
Moses Moody GSW SG 25 PTS | 4 REB | 3 STL | 44.8 FPS (vs. LAL)
Inconsistency has been an issue for Moody this season, but he is clearly a capable offensive player, posting at least 19 points for the 10th time this year while averaging close to three triples per game since last month. With Curry still sidelined, the Warriors will need him to continue playing at this level.
ELITE ASSET:
Donovan Clingan POR C 20 PTS | 19 REB | 2 BLK | 54.3 FPS (vs. MEM)
Clingan continues to dominate the paint, recording his third straight and 20th overall double-double of the season. He has also emerged as one of the league’s best rebounders this year, ranking third in total boards.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Cason Wallace OKC SG 23 PTS | 4 AST | 4 STL | 42.8 FPS (vs. HOU)
The third-year guard has been on an incredible run lately. He was on fire against the Nuggets, knocking down seven threes and finishing with a season-high in scoring, and he has kept it going by recording at least four assists and three steals in each of his last three games. With the Thunder missing several key players, he should be able to keep this up for a while.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jerami Grant POR PF 29 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 36.5 FPS (vs. MEM)
It has been a rough stretch for the forward in the past weeks, but he is finally trending in the right direction, scoring 20 points in three consecutive games while averaging four threes.
STREAMER:
Nique Clifford SAC SG 30 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 50.8 FPS (vs. CLE)
The rookie has seen an uptick in both role and performance lately, scoring at least 14 points in three of his last four games. With key players sidelined today, he took it up a notch, posting his best scoring game of the season and showcasing his upside as a scorer.
FLOPPER:
Luguentz Dort OKC SF 2 PTS | 2 REB | 3 AST | 7.9 FPS (vs. HOU)
Dort’s offensive game remains erratic. Following a solid 18-point performance against the Magic where he knocked down four triples, he struggled to find a rhythm today, finishing with a dismal 1-for-6 shooting from the field.
