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 Night" files, as we see who can tally the most honours these playoffs.
Today's player of the day is...
Joel Embiid
Team's result: Sixers 112, Nets 108 (Sixers lead series 3-1)
Stat line: 31 points (12-22 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-6 FT), 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks and 2 steals
Embiid returned today after missing Game 3 and was nothing short of dominant in his 31 minutes of action, scoring 31 points and leading the Sixers home in a nail-biting finish.
The big man scored 12 of his 31 in the fourth quarter and imposed himself on both ends, recording a game-high 6 blocks.
Block party in Brooklyn@joelembiid with SIX blocks.#PhilaUnite | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/HvLE2df2Ai
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 20, 2019
Honourable Mentions:
Nikola Jokic
Team's result: Nuggets 117, Spurs 103 (Series tied at 2-2)
Stat line: 29 points (10-22 FG, 1-4 3PT, 8-8 FT), 12 rebounds, 8 assists
Jokic recorded a playoff career-high 29 points, playing with a renewed aggression that the Nuggets desperately needed on the offensive end and impressively the big man had zero turnovers on the night.
Through his first four playoff games, he's joined some elite company:
Nikola Jokic has 82 points and 47 rebounds in four career #NBAPlayoffs games. The last player with that many points and rebounds through their first four career postseason games was Shaquille O'Neal (85 points, 51 rebounds). @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/vZxEewUgrM
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) April 21, 2019
Donovan Mitchell
Team's result: Rockets 104, Jazz 101 (Rockets lead series 3-0)
Stat line: 34 points (9-27 FG, 4-12 3PT, 12-17 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals
It wasn't a great shooting night for the second-year man, but Donovan Mitchell was the bulk of the Jazz's offence, driving his way into the paint, weaving through the Rockets defence and trying to make things happen all night.
He was much-improved in Game 3 after two sluggish performances on the road in Houston, but he didn't have much help on the night as the Jazz now sit one game away from elimination.
Ayyyyyyy! pic.twitter.com/viqWdNi9Z1
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 21, 2019
Blake Griffin
Team's result: Bucks 119, Pistons, 103 (Bucks lead series 3-0)
Stat line: 27 points (10-24 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals
In his first game back from a right knee injury, Griffin put in a gutsy performance against the high-flying Bucks.
Despite his best efforts, he didn't get much help on the night and was the lone bright spot in an otherwise rough night for Detroit.
Great to have you back, Blake.#PistonsNow x @RocketFiber pic.twitter.com/f5jR0UWRAX
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 21, 2019
Previous winners
April 15 - Giannis Antetokounmpo
