Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Total: 221.5
Spread: LAL -7
The Los Angeles Lakers look to win-out tonight to avoid the play-in tournament in a late-night showdown in the big easy against the New Orleans Pelicans!
Player News:
*Anthony Davis – GTD (Adductor)
*LeBron James – GTD (Ankle)
*Zion Williamson – OUT
*Brandon Ingram – OUT
*Lonzo Ball – OUT
*Josh Hart – OUT
*James Johnson – GTD (Knee)
*Steven Adams – OUT
Player Breakdowns:
CPT/MVP
1.) Anthony Davis PF/C (LAL) $16,500 –
We have seen vintage AD here lately with the Lakers edging closer to a play-in seeding in the Western Conference. I highly believe both AD and LBJ will play in this game and to be honest, the Pelicans are going to have trouble with Davis. Davis has put up 54, 77, and 62 fantasy points in three of his last four games played, and he easily has 50+ upside here in a game with a modest total of 221.5.
2.) Nickeil Alexander-Walker PG (NOP) $12,000 –
With a ton of injuries essentially wiping out the Pelican’s starting cast, we will see a lot of reserve play today. NAW is the guy to watch here as he sees a hefty 25.6% usage rate and a 1.10 FP/M with Ball, Zion, Adams, and Ingram off the floor in a 218-minute sample this season. Alexander-Walker went for 51 fantasy points last time out against the Warriors with 30 actual, five boards, four dimes, three steals and a block across 40 minutes of action. He took 24 shot attempts to boot. Expect another healthy does of NAW usage here tonight.
MID TIER
1.) LeBron James PG/SF (LAL) $10,800 –
LBJ looked mighty fine on that ankle last night playing just 28 minutes against the Pacers though. He did manage 43 fantasy points in 24 points, seven boards, and eight assists, but failed to record a single steal or block on the night. He has played just 28 minutes in back-to-back games, and I think as long as the Lakers get this one under control early, we likely see a low-minute outing for him once again. His floor is still extremely fine, and if you want to fade one of the Laker studs, it would be LBJ, however, he can still get you 40+ fantasy points here tonight.
2.) Andre Drummond C (LAL) $7,600 –
Honestly, I think we can roll Drummond as CPT/MVP for value tonight if we want and wouldn’t mind it a bit in tournaments for sure. Drummond has put up 35, 38, and 48 fantasy points over his last three contests while seeing 36, 22, and 29 minutes. He has recorded three-straight double-doubles, while totaling 5 blocks in those three games as well. Think he has nice upside here at his price.
3.) Wily Hernangomez C (NOP) $6,200 –
Willy HernanGOAT has played well in the absence of Steven Adams lately. Willy has topped 30 fantasy points in four of his last five games while seeing around 22-26 minutes a night. He has two double-doubles in his last four, with the other two lacking just a rebound and single point within having four-straight double-doubles. Think we can find nice value here in Willy tonight, as he will bang down-low with David Drummond, and he has shown he can hang with the size lately.
VALUE
1.) Jaxson Hayes C (NOP) $5,200 –
Hayes has been also getting good run with the Adams shelving. Hayes has played at least 22+ minutes in his last six-straight games and has put up at least 27 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games played. The Pelicans will need all the bodies they can get, and Hayes could see extended minutes here if James Johnson isn’t able to go either.
2.) Kira Lewis Jr. PG/SG (NOP) $2,600 –
Lewis Jr. is also getting extended run lately with the Pelicans decimated at the guard spot. Kira has now played 19+ minutes in his last four of five games and has put up 15+ fantasy points in all four of those as well. He likely isn’t going to wow anyone, but he likely has 20ish fantasy point upside here tonight and could get garbage time, as well.
Player News
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points (11-of-13 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), four rebounds, eight assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 win over the Nuggets in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Aside from Game 4 against Memphis, SGA hasn’t been his typical uber-efficient self during the playoffs so far. Well, that changed in Game 2, which contributed to a dominant win for Oklahoma City. This was his fourth straight 30-point game, and that helped OKC bounce back from a two-point loss in Game 1. He only played 30 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter, but SGA did plenty of damage when he was on the floor. The series will now shift to Denver, and OKC will need to win a road game to retake homecourt advantage in this series. Game 3 will be on Friday.