NBA DFS Showdown Playbook November 16: Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns
Tonight’s showdown playbook is between two NBA franchises that have won a LOT of games lately the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. We’re unsure about a few players’ statuses, which may be why Golden State are favorites on the road, but this game could be fun even if Chris Paul doesn’t suit up.
Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns
Total: 227.5
Spread: GSW -1
Injuries
Suns
Chris Paul - Questionable
Cameron Johnson - OUT
Landry Shamet - OUT
Warriors
None
MVP/CPT
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Outside of a blowout win against the Spurs, the Warriors star has been a fantasy monster this season. He’s put up 46+ DKP in five of his last six games and has put up 56+ in four of six. Nobody else in this game has the upside that Curry does.
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
We’re unsure if Chris Paul is going to play tonight, but Devin Booker has been great without him this season. He’s averaging 1.24 FP/min and has a 28.8% USG rate without Paul this season. His ownership in the captain's chair takes a definite hit if CP3 plays, but that’s fine by me considering Booker’s 30.3% USG and 1.2 FP/min average playing with Paul this year.
Cameron Payne, Phoenix Suns
This is contingent upon Chris Paul’s status, but Payne has been very good without Paul this season. With Paul and Cameron Johnson off the floor, Payne has a 26.5% USG rate and averages 1.11 FP/min as well. He has scored 22+ points and 34+ DKP in two of his last three games without CP3.
Utility
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors
Wiggins had been rolling heading into the Spurs' blowout win as he scored 20+ points and 32+ DKP in three straight games. On the year, Wiggins has a 21.2% USG rate and averages 1.04 FP/min. Wiggins scored 33 DKP against the Suns earlier this season in just 31 minutes.
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
With Klay Thompson back, we’re going to see Jordan Poole shift back to the bench, but considering how streaky Poole is at times, taking a look at him in our showdown tournament lineups should be an option. He scored 36 points and 52 DKP against the Spurs and has now scored 18+ points in three straight.
Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
I’d consider Paul as a captain if he’s able to return and play a full complement of minutes as he hasn’t played since November 7th and hasn’t topped 25 minutes since November 5th. Paul flirted with a triple-double in the Suns' meeting with the Warriors earlier this year. Paul had 41.3 DKP in that meeting.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
I’m telling you. I believe what we heard Draymond Green say on an episode of “The Shop” when he told LeBron James and everyone else that it’s hard for him, at this point in his career, to get up for unimportant regular season games. Well, they need a win and the Suns are a very important team to face. He’s shown up in essentially every big game this year and had 35 DKP against PHX earlier this year. Something to consider.
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are NOT happy with James Wiseman and sent him packing to the G-League, meaning we’re likely going to see Looney continue to get extended run at center. In the two games prior to their blowout, Looney played 28 and 30 minutes. He had 25+ DKP in three straight games heading into the Spurs game as well.
Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns
Craig has a role with this Suns team with Cameron Johnson out. He just does. He’s played 33 and 35 minutes over the last two games and his production has picked up along with it. He put up 28.25 DKP against Miami and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Craig is being asked to play small-ball power forward and will be relied upon to crash the glass like that more often than not.
Dart Throws
- Damion Lee, Phoenix Suns
- Duane Washington Jr., Phoenix Suns (GPPs if Chris Paul is out)
- Anthony Lamb, Golden State Warriors
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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.