There is no stopping the King. Those who stand his way are forced to bow down to his greatness. With the Friday night lights gleaming, no superstar shines brighter. In a head-to-head battle between MVP candidates, one man rose to the occasion and asserted himself as the leading candidate. That man would happen to be LeBron James. Flirting with a triple-double, James was aggressive all night as he placed his stamp all over the game and all over the Milwaukee Bucks. Even when struggling from behind the three-point line, “Logo Lebron” still found a way to drop a near 40-ball in a big time win. Talk about “young bucks,” the 35-year-old babied and bullied the Bucks all night as he continues his historic MVP run.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 37 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1/7 | 12/21 | 12/15 |
Talk about having the perfect co-star in a potential Finals preview game. 30 and 10 to help the Lakers assert themselves further as a NBA contender. In the matchup against the fellow near seven-footer in Giannis Antetokounmpo, the one-two punch alongside Lebron James just proved to be too much. Most of all, can we just talk about the two big blocks? Davis made sure to make his presence felt by Antetokounmpo all night and those blocks were definitely the icing on the cake.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0/4 | 10/24 | 10/11 |
The only thing going for the Bucks all night honestly. In a game that nobody else except for Donte DiVincenzo, who chipped in 17 points, Antetokounmpo held his own against the two titans from Los Angeles. Outside of the hype built up around this primetime matchup, this game was really nothing more than another day at the office. The Greak Freak doing freakish things, but it really comes down to his three-point shot. Another night struggling from the three-point line bit him down the stretch, as those misses were costly. Do not let that man get a three-point jumper before the playoffs because if he does, then it is BBQ chicken for the rest of the league.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1/6 | 10/21 | 11/14 |
Even with Trae Young out due to illness, John Collins refuses to miss a beat. Big time scoring night for the man despite not having his star pick-and-roll partner. It is big games like this that make you wonder where the Atlanta Hawks would be in the East standings right now if Collins was not suspended for those 25 games. Damn shame that we have to wait another year to see Young, Collins, and this Hawks core in the postseason.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1/3 | 10/15 | 5/5 |
The man is just a bucket. I mean he literally has to score 30 or more just for the Wizards to stay in the game. Fantasy wise, if you need three-point shooting, then Beal is your man. These games of five or more made threes are practically routine for him. The man is shooting from the parking lot and he has the green light to do so.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 35 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7/10 | 13/21 | 2/2 |
Elfrid Payton
Come on, man, Payton does this every year! He has this switch that he turns on with like 20 games left in the season and turns into a near triple-double machine. I do not know if it is just because he wants to tease his potential or if he is really just that good and likes to hold it back. Nonetheless, the man continues to have these late-season breakout games so he is due for a couple more of these before the season ends.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/1 | 7/12 | 4/4 |
Did somebody put this man in the hot tub time machine? This is a retro-looking game for Paul as he continues to show off all his tools as floor general at age 34. 20 and 12 with a healthy Chris Paul should give Oklahoma City Thunder fans hope heading into the postseason. Did someone say first-round upset?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4/6 | 8/13 | 1/1 |
Live and die in the mid-range. Not a single three. Not even a three-point attempt. Derozan just continues to thrive with his early 2000s style of play while also being the only thing keeping the Spurs going.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 10/13 | 4/5 |
Guess he had to cool off a little bit after that 50-ball huh? Not so much considering he recorded his first career triple-double in the win over the Spurs. LeVert is starting to pick things up as the Nets continue to jockey for position heading into the Eastern Conference playoffs. One thing is for sure: LeVert is the man for the Nets rest of this season.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3/5 | 9/16 | 6/7 |
Shaquille Harrison
Who needs Zach Lavine? With Lavine out, Harrison did his best impression as he got the start and went on to play the game of his life. This is not entirely brand new for him though. He seems to thrive when he plays a ton of minutes and struggles heavily when playing in shorts spurts. Talk about playing out of your mind! Give this man more minutes!
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5/6 | 9/14 | 2/2 |
Is this kid just better off the bench? Something must have happened over the All Star break because ever since then, White has been on an absolute tear offensively. Rough night from behind the arc, but 26 points off the bench is something to marvel at. This man has some kind of mojo coming off the bench. Is White starting to make a real case for Sixth Man of the Year?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3/10 | 10/21 | 3/3 |
While all star guard Victor Oladipo continues to get reacclimated to the Pacers offense, Sabonis is continuing to have a career season. For a guy that does not have the ball in his hands a ton, seven turnovers is definitely a lot. But, you cannot sneeze at 20 and 10 in a win. Dominating performance down low for the big man.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1/1 | 10/14 | 3/6 |
Just another day at the office for Jimmy Buckets. Despite the loss, Butler cannot help but get his occasional 30-piece while dominating in the mid-range.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 8/17 | 12/14 |
Eight threes? The man only made eight shots! If this kid does not have one of the greenest lights to shoot the ball from deep, I do not know who does. The man is a marksman that continues to catch fire from behind the arc night in and night out.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8/14 | 8/14 | 0/0 |
Just a great all-around game for the Pelicans’ veteran shooting guard. After watching rookie phenom Zion Williamson play completely out of his mind over the last couple of weeks, it looks like it was finally Holiday’s turn to run things. Just another underrated performance from one of the most underrated two-way players in the game.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 20 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3/5 | 7/13 | 3/6 |
This is the Mike Conley that the Utah Jazz signed up for. After starting the season out not being able to hit the broadside of a barn, Conley is starting to pick things up. Although you cannot expect him to hit six threes every night, Conley has always been an active floor general that can get his own while still facilitating the offense. Games like this from Conley are what make the Jazz a dark horse title contender in the playoffs.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6/10 | 9/16 | 1/1 |
Talk about picking up the slack. Known as the defensive stopper for the Boston Celtics, Smart decided to reach into his bag and pull out a three-ball. More like six of them to be exact. In a game where Jayson Tatum struggled to get anything going offensively, Smart just casually went toe-to-toe with Mike Conley in their own personal three-point contest.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6/15 | 9/23 | 5/6 |
Vucevic is driving the bus for the Orlando Magic right now. A near 30-point double-double on efficient shooting splits as usual. He is a walking 20-and-10 guy, so from a fantasy perspective, you are guaranteed two things: Buckets and Boards.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 12/21 | 3/3 |
Beasley continues to grow into a great scoring threat for the Wolves. An absolutely rough shooting night for D’Angelo Russell who scored only five points while shooting 2 of 14 from the field. Sounds like more opportunity for Beasley to me. In an off night for the rest of the team, Beasley’s stock just continues to rise as you can expect a 20-piece from him on a regular basis.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1/5 | 14/21 | 1/5 |
The only thing going for the Grizzlies in this game. A tough shooting night for the Memphis backcourt just means more boards for the big man. With Jaren Jackson Jr. returning from his knee injury in limited minutes off the bench, the frontcourt duo went off for a combined 30 points. Again, not much going well for the Grizzlies as they continue through this tough stretch.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 14 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/0 | 7/8 | 0/0 |
There has been another Unicorn sighting! He stands 7-foot-3 and is starting to get into his groove as the Dallas Mavericks continue their playoff push. A true display of Porzingis’ potential when fully healthy as a threat on both sides of the floor. I mean come on, four block? Four threes? With a near 30-point double-double? It is going to be tough taking out this ascending Mavs team with this young duo of Kristaps and Luka Doncic picking up steam this late in the season.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4/9 | 9/19 | 4/5 |
Hassan Whiteside
Give this man a Superman cape ASAP. Who says that the traditional big man is a dying breed? The dynamic Trail Blazers backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 49 points on the night, but it was Whiteside who truly put on a virtuoso of a performance. Despite the game ending in a Portland loss, it is performances like this that make you wonder just how dangerous the Blazers would be right now if they had Whiteside AND Jusuf Nurkic down low.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1/1 | 11/14 | 0/3 |
Aron Baynes
Easily the scoring eruption of night. Tying Lebron James for the most points scored by any player Friday night, Baynes was practically unstoppable. Rare shooting performance for the big who looked like a true stretch-four after scoring 27 of his 37 points off great shooting from deep. The man made as many threes as D-Book shot in the game. Three-point contest champion 2021?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 37 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9/14 | 12/23 | 4/4 |
Showing off the combo-guard skills. Despite his struggles shooting from behind the three-point line, Booker was still able to be one of the lead facilitators in the win. He and Ricky Rubio combined for over 20 assists with a good handful of them contributing to Baynes’ buckets.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 23 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3/9 | 8/20 | 4/4 |
