Today, there were quite a few NBA games with impressive performances from various star players such as Alexander, Turner, Booker, DeRozan, and Harden. However, when it comes to selecting today's best player, there is no doubt about who deserves the title. Let's take a closer look at the specific situations.
In a game where the Clippers easily defeated the Trail Blazers, Harden had a great start in the first quarter, scoring 12 points with 4 out of 8 shots, including 0 out of 4 three-pointers, and 4 out of 4 free throws. Throughout the game, Harden played only 29 minutes, shooting 7 out of 16, 1 out of 8 three-pointers, and 4 out of 4 free throws, accumulating 19 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. With today's 19 points, Harden's total career points reached 26,700, just 10 points shy of ranking 14th on the all-time scoring list (held by Oscar Robertson).
Turner, the center for the Pacers, transformed into a high-caliber cannon, showcasing both offensive and defensive prowess. In the first half alone, he shot 6 out of 10, made 5 out of 7 three-pointers, and scored 2 out of 2 free throws, accumulating 19 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block with a +14 plus-minus rating. Over the entire game, Turner played 37 minutes, shooting 9 out of 16, making 8 out of 11 three-pointers, and scoring 2 out of 2 free throws, totaling 28 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
The Suns managed to secure a victory against the Wizards, despite being ahead by as many as 24 points and nearly experiencing a comeback in the fourth quarter, ultimately prevailing. Booker was the standout player for the Suns, scoring 18 points in the first half with 6 out of 12 shots, 2 out of 4 three-pointers, and 4 out of 5 free throws, along with a +21 plus-minus rating. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, he sealed the game with a three-pointer and multiple successful free throws. For the game, Booker shot 10 out of 24, made 4 out of 10 three-pointers, and scored 13 out of 15 free throws, accumulating 37 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, with a +14 plus-minus rating.
DeRozan took charge of the team's offense in the fourth quarter, fearlessly taking on the Rockets' defenders with his back-to-basket moves, even scoring 16 points in a single quarter. Over the entire game, DeRozan played 38 minutes, shooting 12 out of 23, making 2 out of 4 three-pointers, and scoring 7 out of 7 free throws, accumulating 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Back at home, the Thunder faced off against the Cavaliers, with Alexander unleashing his full potential. He scored 26 points in the first half with 10 out of 15 shots, leading the team to a significant lead. In the third quarter, he added another 14 points, and by the end of the third quarter, the Thunder had a 38-point lead, effectively securing the win. Alexander finished the game after three quarters, playing only 29 minutes, shooting 17 out of 26, making 1 out of 5 three-pointers, and scoring 5 out of 5 free throws, amassing 40 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, with a +32 plus-minus rating. Despite this outstanding performance, he was not awarded today's best player due to the exceptional display by Jalen Green on the other side, who fought valiantly against the referees.
Although the game was lost, Jalen Green can be said to have decisively outperformed Fox, standing firm in defeat, earning honor in defeat. He scored 10 points in the first quarter but was forced to rest in the second quarter due to accumulating three fouls early. In the third quarter, he scored 9 points to help his team catch up. In the fourth quarter, the referees favored the Kings, blowing two unjustifiable fouls on Dillon that cost the Rockets the game. However, Green's two three-pointers and a layup kept the Rockets alive, although the final attempt to tie the game with a three-pointer was unsuccessful.
Throughout the game, Jalen Green played for 33 and a half minutes, shooting 10 out of 20, making 4 out of 8 three-pointers, and scoring 4 out of 5 free throws, accumulating 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. Therefore, today's best player undoubtedly belongs to him!