NBA DFS Showdown Playbook April 5: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Published: Apr 05, 2022
Dominate your NBA DFS Showdown contests today using our Player Projections that you can use specifically for Showdown!
Los Angeles Lakers & Phoenix Suns
Spread: Suns -12
Total: 232.5
Injuries:
Los Angeles Lakers:
LeBron James - Out
Phoenix Suns:
Frank Kaminsky - Out
*Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
MVP/CPT
Anthony Davis, PF/C (LAL) – In his first two games back following an 18-game absence with a foot injury, Davis hasn’t seemed to miss a beat. Workload hasn’t been an issue as Davis played 37 and 35 minutes respectively and he should be in for something similar tonight with LeBron James sidelined. There is the risk of a blowout here, but that applies more to the Suns’ side of things as the Lakers will be leaning heavily on Davis to keep things close. Since his return, Davis is averaging 25.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and seven assists per game as the offense will likely run through him.
Devin Booker, PG/SG (PHX) – The match-up suits Booker perfectly from a DFS perspective and he enters the game both well-rested (he got the day off on Sunday) and on a hot streak averaging 36.8 points per game in his last four. Booker is going to need to really rack up the production in the first half tonight, and if the spread for tonight’s game holds true, he will be a large reason as to why the Suns pull away.
Russell Westbrook, PG (LAL) – Too little too late, but things have gotten better for Westbrook as the season winds down. James being sidelined does help here as more of the offensive focus and volume flows through to Westbrook, and that should continue tonight. In three of his last four games, Westbrook has scored between 24 and 27 points, and while we likely won’t see a double-double from him, the potential is always there and he is averaging 7.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game on the season.
UTIL
Chris Paul, PG (PHX) – The matchup is great and the performance is there, but I do have some doubts about how much of Paul we will see in the fourth quarter if this game does in fact get out of hand. Ultimately, I can see the Lakers keeping it close for a while, and that would stand to benefit Paul. With 14 points and 11 assists per game in his last five, the veteran will be entering the playoffs strong.
Malik Monk, PG/SG (LAL) – Monk is getting the minutes in the starting lineup for Los Angeles, but after three games in which he scored 23, 23, and 28 points respectively, the guard has made just five shots in each of his last three games. He has still found his way into double figures offensively while playing over 30 minutes per game, so I’m looking for a bounce back here. In his last five games, Monk is shooting 52.3% from the field, so all he needs is just a few more shots.
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF (PHX) – Johnson is back to the bench tonight, but after missing a month of action, the rust should be off for the forward. In 32 minutes on Sunday, Johnson made just four of his 15 shots from the field, and while the volume will likely see a decrease, it shouldn’t be by much.
Carmelo Anthony, PF (LAL) – Anthony took 18 shots in James’ absence on Sunday, and I would expect the veteran to be in for a similar role tonight off the bench for the Lakers. Throughout this season, Anthony has proven to be a capable scoring option and the expected volume certainly supports it.
Dart Throws
Avery Bradley, SG/SF (LAL) – While he hasn’t done much else, Bradley has scored 10 points in each of his last two games while playing 34 and 28 minutes. As you look to fill out the back end of your roster that is a solid place to start, and Bradley did pick up three steals in one of those games.
Landry Shamet, SG/SF (PHX) – Shamet should get about 15 to 20 minutes of playing time tonight, and if things go sideways in the fourth quarter, he could be in line for a little extra action. In his last four games, Shamet is averaging just over nine points, so we are working with some offensive ability while also securing some salary cap relief.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.