NBA MVP Watch 2018-19: 5 Best performers from 17th October

#4 DeMar DeRozan

Minnesota Timberwolves v San Antonio Spurs

Stats: 28 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 38 minutes of game time;

10-of-21 from the field, 7-of-11 from the free throw line, game-high +/- of +7

The Kawhi-DeRozan trade has worked out pretty well for both parties, based on what we saw from the Spurs in a game that they were made to sweat for the W. DeMar was asked to take on the primary ballhandler's role for a team that has 3 of its guards down with extended injury absences, and he handled the heat pretty well while being guarded by wantaway Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler for big stretches of the game.

The stats from the game don't scream out MVP given that this was a pretty average DeRozan game on the offensive end of things, but what stood out was the way DeRozan went at Butler in an enticing one-on-one battle taking place on both ends of the floor. The Compton native succeeded in limiting Butler from the perimeter (9-of-23), and already fits well into the Spurs' defensive schemes.

It remains to be seen how the rest of the season goes, but the Spurs have gotten off to a typically assured to the year.