NBA DFS Showdown Playbook January 22: Atlanta Hawks vs. Sacramento Kings Top Picks
Happy Monday in the NBA my friends! I hope the NBA DFS main slate is treating you nicely, but it is now time to dive into the Showdown slate. There is a great matchup in store for us to wrap up the night: the Atlanta Hawks taking on De'Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings. The Hawks will need everyone to step up if they want a chance in this one being without Trae Young who is in concussion protocol.
Finding some of the NBA DFS top picks could be, easier if you look at Fantasy Alarm’s NBA DFS Projections, powered by FanJections. Let’s dive into the complete breakdown for tonight’s showdown slate between the Atlanta Hawks vs. Sacramento Kings.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Sacramento Kings
Total: 237.5
Spread: Kings (-8)
Atlanta Hawks Injuries:
- Trae Young - OUT
- Wesley Matthews - OUT
- De'Andre Hunter - OUT
Sacramento Kings Injuries
- Sasha Vezenkov - Questionable
NBA DFS Showdown CPT/MVP Top Plays
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Sabonis is the highest-priced player on the slate and that is because of his stability. He is coming off three straight games in which he recorded a triple-double, and also has a 25-game streak in which he has had a double-double. He is just so expensive on this slate with not a ton of value, and this game has some blowout potential with the Hawks being without Trae Young. You can play him, but it is much easier to build a solid lineup elsewhere.
De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Sabonis's running mate De'Aaron Fox is also in contention for the captain spot tonight. Now he doesnt have near the floor Sabonis does, but he is capable of going off in a game-script like this one. If this game stays close, should should get you 40+ fantasy points. But if a blowout happens, watch out your lineup might be done. In the Kings' last four blowout games he scored fewer than 40 fantasy points in each.
Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks
Dejounte Murray is my top captain play of the night without Trae Young in the lineup. Without Trae Young on the floor this season Murray sees a usage increase from 24.6% to 27.2% Murray also sees a four-point jump in points per game and averages. He also sees a jump in fantasy points per minute from 2.14 to 2.57 which we love to see. I will be playing Murray as my captain tonight with him being $2,700 cheaper than Sabonis.
NBA DFS Showdown Utility Top Plays
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
With the two games without Trae Young this season Johnson's usage hasn't gone up. However, he has still shown at times this season that he has a 50 fantasy point upside each night. I also feel that he will have a solid floor with Trae Young being out and should float around the 30-point fantasy points. He has also been aggressive over his past two games getting up 30 shot attempts between the two games.
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
If you can not afford Johnson, then just pay down for Keegan Murray who is a cheaper version. Murray has scored at least 32 fantasy points in five of his past six games. Like Jalen Johnson, Murray has gotten up 30 shots over the past two games as well. With this game expected to be faster-paced, that only helps Murray, as should see 12-15 attempts once again against a Hawks team that is not good on defense.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
Bogdan Bogdanovic should draw the start in this one for the Hawks with Trae Young out. His fantasy points per minute actually go down without Young in the lineup this season from 2.08 to 1.53. He gets three more shots per game and grabs about two more rebounds per game as well. The issue, with him having to be more aggressive he averages almost two more turnovers per game. With that said, I like him in this matchup tonight and should be 5x his value, even though he has struggled as of late.
Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings
I like Kevin Huerter a bit more than Malik Monk tonight because of the price difference. Huerter has had a mid-season resurgence as he has scored over 25 game points in two of his last three games. In a pace-up matchup in the last game against the Pacers Huerter knocked down 7-12 attempts from behind the arc. I am riding that wave in another good matchup against the Hawks.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Top Plays
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
I do not like the value on this slate so I had to slide Onyeka Okongu into the value tier in this one. He is only $5,600 on DraftKings and we know he is going to get a consistent run. He has played 23 minutes off of the bench for this Hawks team in four straight games. Maybe the Hawks throw a wrinkle in it and go big tonight. At his price, I am fine with it, but I do not love it.
Trent Forrest, Atlanta Hawks
I was torn between Patty Mills and Trent Forrest as to who is going to get backup point guard minutes tonight. Forrest has been the primary backup point guard for the Hawks for most of the season, but Patty Mills has played more minutes than Forrest in his last two games. Hopefully, there is word before tip who will likely get those backup minutes, so make sure to hang out in the fantasy alarm discord to get up-to-date news. I am fine throwing a dart for either guy.
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Player News
Anthony Davis (adductor) and Brandon Williams (oblique) are probable for Friday’s game against the Grizzlies.
Davis was listed as probable Wednesday against the Kings, but ultimately played 35 minutes and had 27 points in the win. The 32-year-old is once again listed as probable with the adductor injury that sidelined him earlier this season. Davis figures to be available as the Mavericks battle the Grizzlies for the eighth seed in the Western Conference on Friday.
Ja Morant (ankle) is questionable for Friday’s game against the Mavericks.
Morant told reporters after Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors that he expects to play Friday. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old point guard missed practice Thursday and is officially listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain. While it’s hard to envision Morant sitting out a game of importance like Friday’s, his ankle is clearly bothering him. If Morant is out, Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard will be in line for extra minutes with Kennard potentially moving into the starting lineup.
Trae Young (Achilles) is probable for Friday’s game against the Heat.
Even in the postseason, the Hawks continue to list Young as probable with an Achilles injury. The listing is performative, stemming from Young being held out of an NBA Cup game earlier this season despite not appearing on the injury report, which resulted in a $100K fine for the Hawks. With the Hawks’ season on the line Friday, expect Young to be cleared to play once again.
Pelle Larsson (ankle) and Nikola Jovic (hand) are questionable for Friday’s game against the Hawks.
No big surprises on the Heat injury report heading into Friday’s game. While Larsson and Jovic are questionable, Duncan Robinson (back), Alec Burks (back) and Haywood Highsmith (Achilles) are all available. Larsson was questionable, but ultimately available against the Bulls Wednesday, though he didn’t play due to coach’s decision. Jovic was out Wednesday as he hasn’t played since February with a broken right hand.
Ja Morant (ankle) missed practice on Thursday and will be a game-time decision against the Mavericks on Friday.
Morant finished out Tuesday’s game against the Warriors after injuring his ankle during overtime and said after the game that he will play on Friday. It’s difficult to imagine him not suiting up for a win-or-go-home game, but the ankle is clearly bothering him quite a bit, which could impact his performance on the court. If something changes, Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard will take on extra minutes, with Kennard potentially replacing Morant in the starting unit.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Damian Lillard has been cleared of his deep vein thrombosis and is no longer on blood-thinning medication.
Charania also reported that this is an incredibly quick recovery for Lillard that was made possible by early treatment. It is an excellent development for both Dame and the Bucks. He has been ruled out for Game 1 against the Pacers on Saturday, and they will give him time to ramp up before he returns to the lineup. It’s unclear what that timeline looks like, but Lillard is certainly on pace to return sooner rather than later. Ryan Rollins should continue to start in place of Dame until he returns.