NBA DFS Showdown Playbook January 8: Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers
Tonight’s showdown match-up between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers could be potentially what we see for a round of the playoffs in the Western Conference. We get another west coast heater for the late-night hammer here on Monday, and it is a great match up on both sides! Let's chat about it.
Finding some of the NBA DFS top picks could be made easier if you take a look at Fantasy Alarm’s NBA DFS Projections, powered by FanJections. Let’s dive into the complete breakdown for tonight’s showdown slate.
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- Total: 233
- Spread: LAC -5.5
Phoenix Suns Injuries
- Bol Bol - OUT
- Nassir Little - OUT
- Damion Lee - OUT
Los Angeles Clippers Injuries
- Moussa Diabate - OUT
NBA DFS Showdown CPT/MVP Top Plays:
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard is suiting up to play tonight and I think there is nothing more he wants than to beat the Suns on his home floor. Kawhi is listed as the third highest priced play on the slate, but I think he has just as much upside as Booker and Durant for this game. Leonard has recorded at least 37+ fantasy points in nine of his last 10 contests, with eight of those reaching 45 or better.
Booker should be able to exploit the true weakness of the Clippers defense, the backcourt. Booker continues to put up really nice games, but the Sun's fantasy points have been a bit more concentrated between Booker, Durant, and Nurkic lately, not to mention Beal is back in the fold. However, Booker will continue to run the show, and has topped 40 fantasy points in five of his last six.
This isn't the greatest match up for Durant, but we know he really is match up proof. The only true question is how healthy is he? He is probable to play, but he was supposed to be a pitch count last night, but still somehow played 36 minutes against the Grizzlies at home. The encouraging aspect of that is that he did play that many minutes and is still going to play on the back-to-back, and he recorded 46 fantasy points to boot. As long as he is a full-go, he is in play for CPT/MVP.
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
Feel like PG is getting into a groove lately, going for 52, 39, and 44 fantasy points over his last three contests. Continues to see big minutes and we know he has 50-fantasy point upside on any given night. Would lean more to playing him at UTIL however.
NBA DFS Showdown UTIL Top Plays:
James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers
Seems as of late that Harden is taking more of a back-seat to Leonard and PG and playing more facilitator in getting them the ball. The last two contests only saw 31 and 33 fantasy points from Harden, but he had topped 40 in the prior three games before that. One of those games as a 48 fantasy point game against this same Suns team in Phoenix. He is a top UTIL play tonight.
Not a huge fan of Beal, but he is playing 34+ minutes a night since returning, but this will be his first true road game in a long time for this season alone. We did see a little upside flash two games ago vs Miami where he accrued 49 fantasy points, but that was also with Durant off the floor. Prior to that great shooting night vs Heat, he had only been recording 30-35 fantasy points, so that is likely his median average and what we should look to expect.
Neither one of the starting centers for either of these teams faired well in their meeting in Phoenix two games ago, but Nurkic is fresh off a nice game where he put up nearly 53 fantasy points against the Grizzlies with 18 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, and a blocked shot. We know he has the upside, but Zubac did an excellent job holding Anthony Davis to a modest game last night as well.
NBA DFS Showdown Value Plays:
- Ivica Zubac - Has played well, 31 and 50 fantasy points in his last two games.
- Grayson Allen - Starter minutes and should see 20-25 fantasy points most nights.
- Norman Powell - Going to be one of first off the bench, very high impact player and should see 25+ minutes.
- Eric Gordon - Probable to play tonight, unsure how many minutes, but should be one of first bench players out for backcourt. Should still see 20-22 minutes, but is heavily shot dependent.
- Terance Mann - Starting guard and plays 17-23 minutes a game. Low floor, but super cheap and if he gives you 15+ fantasy points, could be nice play for salary 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.