Less than 20 games remain in the regular season and the league’s stars are playing their best basketball with the postseason right around the corner. However, players who might not be the biggest names across the league are also stepping up their games to earn playoff minutes or to audition for new teams next year.
Aaron Wiggins vs. Portland on March 7
Whenever fans think of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first player that comes to mind is MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and rightfully so. While SGA is definitely the head of the snake in Oklahoma City, a big reason why the Thunder are arguably the best team in the NBA is their depth. One unheralded player that has significantly contributed to OKC’s success is shooting guard Aaron Wiggins.
Wiggins has been putting together a rock-solid season, averaging 11 points per game on nearly 50% shooting from the field. Against the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday, Wiggins stepped up with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all out. Wiggins scored 30 points as the Thunder came up with a decisive 107-89 victory.
Lonnie Walker IV vs. Utah on March 9
Both the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz have nothing to play for at this point in the season, but I picked this game to highlight guard Lonnie Walker IV’s performance. Walker IV was originally signed by the Boston Celtics in the offseason as a free agent, but did not make the team’s opening day roster and played overseas.
Walker eventually made his way back stateside with the 76ers and on Sunday, he showed that he belongs on a NBA roster, scoring 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists. Before suiting up for the 76ers this year, Walker previously played for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.
Sam Hauser vs. Utah on March 10
Much like the aforementioned Thunder, the Boston Celtics are another that has incredible depth. Boston’s stars took a night off against the Utah Jazz, but the Celtics still secured the victory. Forward Sam Hauser had a career night as he put up 33 points, largely thanks his nine 3-point makes.
Hauser is one of the many players on the Celtics that can beat you from distance if you leave him open. On the season, he is making nearly 40% of his threes and in his previous three seasons with Boston, he shot well above the 40% mark from distance.
T.J. McConnell vs. Milwaukee on March 11
Point guard T.J. McConnell has stuck around in the NBA for as long as he has because of intangibles that you cannot see on the stat sheet. The headline from the Indiana Pacers’ win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday was obviously Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning four-point play, but McConnell had his fingerprints all over this game.
McConnell scored 12 points and dished out seven assists, but his four steals on the defensive end helped keep the Pacers in the game—one that Indiana desperately needed to win. The fourth seed in the Eastern Conference is currently up for grabs and the Pacers, Bucks and Detroit Pistons are right in the mix. Had Indiana lost to Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Bucks would have secured the tiebreaker over the Pacers. However, Indiana now has a chance to even the season series at two games apiece on Saturday and make the race for home-court advantage in the first round even more interesting.
Bogdan Bogdanović vs. Miami on March 12
The Los Angeles Clippers’ biggest acquisition at the trade deadline was acquiring deadeye shooting guard Bodgan Bogdanović from the Atlanta Hawks. The man they call “Bogi” was critical to Atlanta’s Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 and has always been a great player. Since being traded to Los Angeles, Bogdanović has put up more points per game on higher efficiency from the field than he did in Atlanta this season.
Against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, Bogdanović had one of his best games as a Clipper with 30 points and 10 rebounds. He only missed five shots from the field as the Clippers went on to beat Miami 119-104.