NBA DFS Showdown Playbook: March 29 - Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers
Published: Mar 29, 2022
Welcome back, Paul George! The Los Angeles Clippers start is making his return to the lineup tonight against the Utah Jazz. We have yet to hear anything about any sort of minutes restriction, so it's hard to look George's way on this NBA DFS Showdown slate considering he's the second highest priced player here.
Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers
Spread: UTA -1
Total: 218
Injuries
Utah
Rudy Gobert - QUEST
Bojan Bogdanovic - QUEST
Danuel House Jr. - QUEST
Hassan Whiteside - OUT
Udoka Azubuike - OUT
Los Angeles
Paul George - IN
Kawhi Leonard - OUT
Norman Powell - OUT
MVP/CPT
There is nobody in this game that has as much upside as Donovan Mitchell if we’re being honest. The Clippers are pretty much limiting everyone and their stars are either out or questionable. On the year, Donovan Mitchell has a 33.2% USG rate and averages 1.27 FP/min and they could be playing without Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert here once again.
We’ll see if Rudy Gobert is even going to play here, but if he does, the Clippers are going to have a hard time containing him on the glass. It’s not a coincidence that Gobert has averaged 16.5 rebounds and 47.4 DKP/game across just 26.5 minutes in two games against the Clippers this season. Gobert averages 1.22 FP/min without Joe Ingles this year.
UTIL
I’m unsure that Jordan Clarkson ends up being my favorite UTIL option depending on the statuses of Rudy Gobert and Bojan Bogdanovic. That said, Clarkson’s been extended without Bogdanovic in the lineup lately, playing around 30 minutes each and every night. He has 40 FP upside when he’s given that type of run.
I’m confused why Terance Mann only played 23 minutes last game considering he had topped 27 in four straight and that includes 27 in a 30 point loss, so the blowout argument isn’t great. In those four games, Mann had topped 27+ DKP in four straight games and 35+ in three of four. Over the last month, Mann has averaged a very solid .94 FP/min. If Paul George returns, it could be a detriment to Mann.
Although Ivica Zubac is starting for the Clippers, Isaiah Hartenstein has been the more productive of the two centers. Hartenstein has now played 20+ minutes in five straight games and has now put up 30+ DKP in three straight games and 25+ in four of five. Over the last month, he’s averaging 1.18 FP/min, which is an elite number.
Before the injury, Bojan Bogdanovic was really feeling himself offensively, scoring 21+ actual points in four straight games, so if he returns here, can he return to that form right away? It’s definitely possible. The Clippers are struggling defensively right now, ranking 22nd in DRtg in the month of March. He scored 20 points in 25 minutes against the Clippers in the one game he played against them.
As the season has gone on, since the trade at least, the Clippers have used Robert Covington more and more. He’s now topped 21+ minutes in four straight games and topped out at 30 over this recent stretch. He’s been quite good lately, putting up 25+ DKP in three straight games and topping out at 38.5 DKP at that span. Covington greatly benefits from Marcus Morris Sr. and Nicolas Batum being limited.
We haven’t heard anything about Paul George’s minutes and if there is going to be a limit, but assuming there is, Amir Coffey should remain pretty relevant in the Clippers lineup. Coffey played 38 minutes last game and has topped 30 minutes in three of his last five. He flashed 30 FP upside last game.
Notes
Guys that would in play if Bojan Bogdanovic, Hassan Whiteside & Danuel House Jr. are out;
If all three are out;
IF Paul George is not limited at all, he's definitely in play.
Dominate your NBA DFS Showdown contests today using our Player Projections that you can use specifically for Showdown!
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.