The 2019 NBA Playoffs are heating up!
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 these playoffs.
Today's player of the day is...
Ben Simmons
Team's result: Sixers 131, Nets 115
Stat line: 31 points (11-13 FG, 9-11 FT), 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Simmons was absolutely everywhere for Philly today, especially in the absence of Joel Embiid.
The point guard set the tone from the jump and was instrumental in holding off the Nets' comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points in the final frame.
😤 SIMMONS 😤 pic.twitter.com/o6yaeXqhFK
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) April 19, 2019
The Sixers now hold a 2-1 series lead, thanks to the Aussie's best playoff game of his career.
Honourable mention
Derrick White
Team's result: Spurs 118, Nuggets 108
Stat line: 36 points (15-21 FG, 1-4 3PT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists
White was the heartbeat for the San Antonio Spurs today, pouring in a career-high 36 points in the win.
He got it done on both ends of the court, leading his team in scoring, while shutting down Jamal Murray, who finished with just six points on 2-of-6 shooting and four turnovers
Kevin Durant
Team's result: Warriors 132, Clippers 105
Stat line: 38 points (14-23 FG, 3-10 3PT), 7 assists, 4 rebounds
After two relatively quiet games by Durant's standards to start the series, he hit back in a big way in Game 3, pouring in 38 points in just 29 minutes of action.
With the Clippers defence honed in on Durant, it opened up the floor for the rest of his teammates, with four other Warriors also scoring in double figures on the night.
Tobias Harris
Team's result: Sixers 131, Nets 115
Stat line: 29 points (11-18 FG, 6-6 3PT), 16 rebounds, 3 assists
Harris picked the perfect moment to have his best game in a Sixer uniform, with the team in desperate need of some offence, with Joel Embiid sidelined.
“It’s no secret when you lose Joel Embiid, you lose firepower offensively,” coach Brett Brown said. “It’s to Tobias’ credit that he recognized that we needed someplace to go to get points.
Given the Sixers' struggles from the three-point line through the first two games, knocking down all six of his triples was exactly what coach Brown wanted to see.
Previous winners
April 15 – Giannis Antetokounmpo
