Here are the top performers on May 19 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 41 PTS | 24 REB | 3 BLK | 83.3 FPS
This was his first time reaching the conference finals, and he delivered in a major way. Offensively, he was a force, shooting 14-for-25 from the field and 12-for-13 from the free-throw line for his best scoring game of the playoffs. He also dominated the boards, grabbing a career-best nine offensive rebounds and finishing with more than the Thunder’s starters combined (23). Despite that, the Thunder are still one of the best defensive teams in the league, and they should be able to find ways to make him less effective in the next games.
BREAKOUT:
Alex Caruso OKC SG 31 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 44.9 FPS
Since averaging 13.5 points and 3.5 threes over a two-game stretch against the Suns, Caruso had not contributed much offensively. Today, however, he significantly elevated his game, knocking down eight threes to lead the team in scoring and set a new playoff career high. While he is unlikely to repeat this performance offensively, he should continue to be a major asset in the series with his two-way contributions.
SLEEPER:
Cason Wallace OKC SG 8 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 20.2 FPS
This was a solid two-way performance for Wallace, who converted two threes and finished with a playoff-high in rebounds. Since the last series, he’s been a steady threat both in three-point shooting and steals, which will surely be crucial in the next games of this matchup.
ELITE ASSET:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC PG 24 PTS | 12 AST | 5 STL | 59.6 FPS
Shai started the game on a low note by scoring just four points on 1-for-5 shooting in the first half. However, he was able to find his rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring 12. Despite the struggles, the two-time MVP still put up an outstanding overall performance, finishing with a playoff-high in assists and steals.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Jalen Williams OKC SG 26 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 42.9 FPS
The forward was back in the lineup today after being sidelined for the last six games with a hamstring injury. Still, he was able to produce at a high level, recording a full stat line while also finishing second on the team in scoring. Though it’s been a rough year for Williams, as he played a total of just 33 regular-season games due to injuries, he has remained a legitimate scoring force, averaging 17.1 points on 48.4% shooting from the field, and he should continue to do that in this matchup.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Dylan Harper SAS SG 24 PTS | 11 REB | 7 STL | 66.2 FPS
For most of the playoffs, Harper has been a dependable contributor for the Spurs. Recently, he’s made an even larger impact. Today, though, he elevated his game further, posting his second 20-point, 10-rebound performance in his last four games, while also recording a playoff-high in assists and a career-high in steals.
STREAMER:
Ajay Mitchell OKC SG 4 REB | 5 AST | 2 STL | 22.3 FPS
In their previous series against the Lakers, Mitchell played exceptionally well on the offensive end. While he failed to carry that momentum today, finishing with his worst scoring game of the year, he still turned in a strong overall performance and should continue to be a vital contributor in this matchup.
FLOPPER:
Stephon Castle SAS PG 17 PTS | 6 REB | 11 AST | 32.7 FPS
The Spurs guard was off to a superb start in Game 1, scoring 11 points on solid percentages in the first quarter. Unfortunately, he didn’t look the same the rest of the way, scoring just six points on 2-for-9 shooting. Overall, it was an ugly performance. While he recorded another double-digit assist output, he was never fully effective, committing just as many turnovers. However, with Fox sidelined, Castle should continue to see a much bigger role as the team’s primary playmaker for the time being.
