The 2019 NBA Playoffs are underway!
Every day from now until the end of the postseason, our NBA.com staff will bring you one top performer following the completion of the playoff games on that day.
You'll be able to see the best performance and three honourable mentions from each day, while also having access to all prior 'Player of the Day' files, as we see who can tally the most honours this playoffs.
Your first Player of the Day will be...
Stephen Curry
Team's result: Warriors 121, Clippers 104
Stat line: 38 points (11-16 FG, 8-12 3PT, 8-9 FT), 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block
Curry was incredible in this game, catching fire at all the right times for his team. He had 20 of his 38 points in the first half and when the Clippers began to claw back into the game in the fourth quarter, Curry checked back in and immediately converted a pair of threes to start another run to put LA away.
His second 3-pointer in the fourth quarter put him at 286 made 3-point field goals in the playoffs, passing Ray Allen for the most in NBA history.
Honourable mentions
DJ Augustin
Team's result: Magic 104, Raptors 101
Stat line: 25 points (9-13 FG, 4-5 3PT, 3-4 FT), 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Augustin stepped up in Game 1 knocking down what would become the game-winning 3-pointer for the Magic, scoring the team's final five points in the contest.
Caris LeVert and the Nets' bench
.@CarisLeVert's 23 PTS off the bench help the @BrooklynNets win Game 1 on the road! #WeGoHard #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/arFfamNpDT
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2019
Team's result: Nets 111, 76ers 102
Stat line: LeVert – 23 points (8-18 FG, 3-3 3PT, 4-4 FT); Rest of Nets' bench: 36 points
The Nets' bench was the difference maker in Game 1, outscoring the 76ers' second unit 59-26 – their 59 bench points were a franchise playoff record.
LeVert led the way with 23 points but Spencer Dinwiddie's 18 points and Ed Davis' 12 points, 16 rebounds and game-best plus-28 plus/minus made all the difference.
Jimmy Butler
Team's result: Nets 111, 76ers 102
Stat line: 36 points (11-22 FG, 1-3 3PT, 13-15 FT), 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
If it wasn't for Butler, this 76ers-Nets game would have gotten out of hand early. Butler provided the only spark for Philly in Game 1, bringing the energy and intensity that was expected when they traded for him back at the start of the season.
