May 19, 2026
PLAYER PERFORMANCE
New York Knicks
A masterful scoring barrage drove Brunson's performance, as he erupted for 38 points on efficient 15/29 shooting to produce a massive +23.7 Offense credit. He relentlessly attacked the paint and added disruptive defense with 3 steals and 4 deflections.
Hyper-efficient scoring defined Bridges's night, as he poured in 18 points on just 11 shots (64% FG) to generate a +9.8 Offense credit. He was a two-way force, adding 2 steals and holding his defensive matchups to 5/13 shooting.
A disastrous turnover problem undermined an otherwise strong defensive effort from Towns, as his 7 giveaways were more than triple his season average (2.1). While he generated a +8.0 Defense credit and held matchups to 33% shooting, the constant possessions he gave away erased that value.
Anunoby manufactured production at the free-throw line (8/10 FT) to salvage an otherwise difficult shooting night where he went just 2-for-9 from the field. His defensive presence remained a positive, holding opponents to 3/9 shooting and earning a +6.5 Defense credit.
Hart's disruptive activity was his calling card, as he tallied 6 deflections that helped fuel a +5.0 Defense credit. He complemented his hustle with solid all-around production, chipping in 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Hyper-efficient shooting defined Shamet's impactful bench minutes, as he went a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and posted a massive +25 plus-minus. His offensive spark (+8.2 Offense credit) was supplemented by solid hustle plays, including drawing a charge and holding opponents to 0/3 shooting.
McBride was a non-factor offensively, going scoreless on 0/1 shooting in over 16 minutes of play. While he didn't commit any turnovers, his lack of production was a stark contrast to his 8.1 PPG average and resulted in a negative defensive grade (-3.1).
Clarkson made a minimal impact in his 16 minutes, scoring just 3 points on 1/3 shooting. While he did not hurt the team with mistakes, he also failed to provide the scoring punch he is typically known for, reflected in a -0.5 Offense credit.
Robinson generated value in limited minutes through his screening and hustle, earning a +5.0 Offense credit driven by 4 screen assists. Despite poor free-throw shooting (2/8), his activity on both ends resulted in positive play-by-play grades for Offense, Hustle, and Defense.
Alvarado provided a quick and efficient scoring burst in his limited minutes, scoring 4 points on 2/3 shooting in just over 6 minutes. His 3 deflections showcased his trademark defensive peskiness, contributing to a positive +1.9 Hustle credit.
Cleveland Cavaliers
An avalanche of turnovers drove Harden's negative performance, as his 6 giveaways were a significant jump from his 4.3 season average. This carelessness, combined with highly inefficient shooting from the floor (5/16 FG) and deep (1/8 3P), resulted in a negative Offense credit of -2.9.
A massive defensive outing powered Mitchell's game, as he generated a +13.8 Defense credit by racking up 6 steals and 6 deflections. This defensive chaos supplemented his efficient scoring (29 points on 12/23 shooting), though 4 turnovers slightly dampened his otherwise stellar offensive line.
A dominant defensive performance (+10.3 Defense credit) defined Mobley's night, as he held opponents to just 3/10 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds, well above his 7.8 average. However, his offensive contributions were muted by inefficient shooting (6/16 FG) and 3 turnovers, which dragged down his overall line.
Allen's value came primarily from his offensive process rather than volume, generating a +13.5 Offense credit despite scoring below his average. His impact was felt through efficient finishing (3/6 FG) and playmaking (3.0 assists vs 0.9 avg), though opponents found success scoring against him (9/16 FG).
Efficient floor-spacing drove Wade's performance, as he knocked down 3-of-5 from three-point range on his way to 10 points, more than double his season average. This offensive outburst (+13.1 Offense credit) was a significant departure from his recent play and provided a much-needed scoring lift from a reserve role.
Merrill provided a solid offensive spark off the bench, scoring 12 points and hitting 3-of-8 from deep to earn a +8.8 Offense credit. He also added value with his activity, chipping in 4 deflections while committing zero turnovers.
Turnovers and fouls plagued Strus in a quiet performance, as he committed 3 giveaways and 5 personal fouls in just 25 minutes. His scoring was limited to 8 points on 2/6 shooting from three, failing to provide his usual floor-spacing threat.
Schröder struggled mightily to score, shooting a frigid 1-for-9 from the field, which negated his otherwise solid floor game. He managed to contribute with 5 assists against zero turnovers, but the lack of scoring punch was the defining feature of his minutes.
In his brief 5 minutes of action, Ellis's primary contribution was getting to the free-throw line for 2 points, as he did not attempt a field goal. His appearance was marred by 2 turnovers, an uncharacteristic mistake given his 0.3 season average.
