Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers
O/U: 233
Spread: LAC -11.5
Injuries
Timberwolves
Malik Beasley - OUT
Jaylen Nowell - DOUBT
Clippers
Kawhi Leonard - IN
Serge Ibaka - OUT
Patrick Beverley - OUT
Jay Scrubb - OUT
Nicolas Batum - OUT
MVP/CPT
I know Kawhi Leonard is back, but we’re getting the best version of Paul George all year long and I don’t think anyone can stop him right now. He’s scored 32+ actual points and 50+ DKP in five straight games and has even topped 60 DKP in two straight. The Wolves are a horrible defensive unit that PG13 can take full advantage of.
We shouldn’t see any limitations for Leonard here as he has only missed a few games. Leonard had been playing really well, notching 49+ DKP in four-of-five games. Leonard has had success against this TWolves team already this year scoring 36 actual and 59 DKP. They’re 28th as a team in DRtg.
If the Timberwolves are going to keep this game competitive, it’s because their big man is having a monster game. Foul trouble ruined his streak of nine straight 50+ FP outings and 10 straight double-doubles. The Clippers rate out very well against centers, so keep that in mind when building your lineups.
Mid-Tier
The rookie has had a fantastic season and his production hasn’t tailed off since the return of D’Angelo Russell really at all. He had a poor outing against Miami, like a lot of players do, and before that he had a streak of nine straight games in which he scored 30+ DKP. That’s the type of floor I want in my showdown lineup. We know the type of upside the kid has as well.
One of my core pieces to this showdown lineup will be Ivica Zubac . He didn’t look great against Joel Embiid in the slightest, but the Timberwolves are the worst team in the league at defending centers according to DvP. Zubac has two double-doubles over his last four games and had topped 25 DKP in the three games prior to Philadelphia.
With everyone healthy, Morris is definitely third fiddle, but he still has the green light from everywhere. He’s topped 15 actual in three straight games and six times over his last 10 games. The TWolves rank 23rd against power-forwards according to DvP.
Value Tier
All aboard the Rondo fantasy value train in LAC. It’s leaving the station! He’s fit in well in LA and played the most minutes he had with the team (26) in their last game. Rondo has consistently played 18+ if you don’t believe he’ll see that many again. He’s also put up 21+ DKP in three-of-five contests and has given us a 35-point ceiling.
Look, the guy gets minutes and he’s productive. It’s the first part we’re worried about. He has, however, played 22 and 23 minutes the last two games. It’s just the 12, eight, 19 and 10 in the four games respectively before them that worries me. He put up 25 and 27 DKP in their last two games and with Jaden McDaniels really struggling to stay on the floor, Hernangomez has found his way back in the rotation.
Okogie doesn’t do anything that really jumps off the page, but he’s a decent producer. He’s been getting really good run of late playing 24+ minutes in four-of-five games. He’s only failed to hit 17 DKP once over that span while topping out at 30. He has a chance to be a solid value here because the TWolves really like his defense and he will have his hands full with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard .