Here are the top performers on May 26 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Karl Anthony-Towns NYK C 19 PTS | 14 REB | 2 BLK | 50.3 FPS
Towns saved his best for last in this matchup. By any measure, the former No. 1 overall pick was excellent today, helping the Knicks complete the sweep. Offensively, he was difficult to stop, going 8-for-11 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from deep to lead the team in scoring. He also led all players in rebounds while making a major impact on defense. This is definitely the type of performance the team will need from him in the championship.
BREAKOUT:
Landry Shamet NYK SG 16 PTS | 2 AST | 1 STL | 22.0 FPS
From the three-point area, Shamet has been lethal in this series. In the first three games, he went 7-for-8, but he took it up another notch today, going a perfect 4-for-4 from deep while also posting his best scoring game of the playoffs. Certainly, this level of production will make a big difference in the Finals, if he can keep it up.
SLEEPER:
Mitchell Robinson NYK C 8 PTS | 10 REB | 1 STL | 21.0 FPS
Robinson has only made a modest impact over the last two series, mostly because of limited playing time. But he came through today, setting a new playoff high in rebounds while also going 4-for-6 on two-pointers. Both the Thunder and the Spurs have several talented big men on their rosters, so he should continue to be an important contributor in the Finals.
ELITE ASSET:
Donovan Mitchell CLE SG 31 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL | 36.3 FPS
Despite the loss, Mitchell showed up in a big way today. He took over on offense, shooting 5-for-9 from three and 8-for-10 from the line for his sixth 30-point outing of the postseason, and also finished as the game’s leading scorer. Even with some inconsistency, Mitchell has largely delivered in this year’s playoffs, averaging 26.0 points on 45% shooting along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He should be able to play at a high level again next season.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Josh Hart NYK SG 11 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 32.2 FPS
Since scoring 26 points in Game 2, Hart’s scoring production has trended downward. He was even less effective today, scoring fewer than 10 points for the first time in six games. Though he was disappointing offensively, he made up for it in the secondary categories, leading all players in assists and finishing second overall in rebounds. Hart definitely knows how to impact the game in a variety of ways, and that should only continue moving forward.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
OG Anunoby NYK SF 17 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 36.4 FPS
Compared to his performances earlier in the playoffs, his output in this series has been quieter, which is understandable considering he recently came back from an injury. Even so, Anunoby has been a dependable contributor on both offense and defense, which will be significant for the team in the Finals.
STREAMER:
Miles McBride NYK PG 11 PTS | 2 AST | 3 STL | 25.4 FPS
In the first three games of the series, McBride had a rough time, shooting just 3-for-13 from the field. However, he turned it around in Game 4 with a highly efficient scoring performance. Offensively, McBride has had moments in the playoffs, particularly in their Game 4 win against the Sixers, though he has mostly been hot and cold. Regardless, he’s still an important piece of the team and could still play a pivotal role in the Finals.
FLOPPER:
James Harden CLE SG 12 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 20.8 FPS
Things just didn’t click for Harden in this matchup. Excluding Game 2, he largely struggled on offense, shooting 2-for-21 from three and piling up 17 turnovers. It was even worse today, as he shot just 2-for-8 overall, including going scoreless in the second half. Still, the Cavs had a highly successful run this season, and Harden was a major factor in that.
