The focus in tonight’s NBA DFS Showdown Slate is clearly in the backcourt as Trae Young and Dejounte Murray head to Phoenix to take on Chris Paul on the Suns. With that being said, we do have to keep an eye on Young’s status as he is dealing with an ankle injury, but all signs do point to him being ready to go tonight. Let us dig into some other options in what is shaping up to be both a close and relatively high scoring game. 

 

Injuries

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young – Probable (ankle)

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker – Out

Cameron Payne – Out

Landry Shamet – Out

 

NBA DFS Showdown Slate Picks

MVP/Captain

Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Paul continues to be the lone wolf in the Suns’ backcourt with Devin Booker out, and the veteran certainly has proven to be up to the task. In his last five games, Paul has managed to turn back the clock as he is averaging 21.6 points, 10.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game and he isn’t showing signs of slowing down either. Not only is the volume and usage there for Paul, but he is also shooting 54% from the field in that stretch. 

Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks

We will break the tie between Murray and Young tonight by going with the lower priced option first as the two guards are similar in nature. It doesn’t hurt that Murray is coming off a 40 point effort against Portland, but do need to note that Young was sidelined on Monday. In his first season with Atlanta, Murray is averaging 21.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game as he is certainly up to carrying the load offensively. 

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

With Young listed as probable, I’m not sure we have anything to worry about his ankle and he should go back to his high scoring ways again tonight against the Suns. In his last game, Young was clicking with 31 points and 10 assists to bring his averages for the season up to 27.2 points and 9.9 assists.

 

Utility

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

While this is not what we may be used to, centers have been doing well against Atlanta this season. That is a recipe for success tonight as Ayton has been also stepping things up offensively with Booker out and he has also been pounding the ball as well. In his last three games, Ayton is averaging 21.3 points and 13.7 rebounds in what is a strong season for the big man. 

Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns

All it took was the injury to Booker and Shamet for us to see what Bridges is capable of on the offensive end. He continues to develop, at least on a temporary basis, into a real go-to option for the Suns and he is averaging 22.3 points per game in his last six while also shooting 49% from the field. 

Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks

With four double-doubles in a row, and missing a fifth by just one rebound, Capela is back to his old ways as of late. Capela is averaging 12.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season while shooting 64% from the field as he is finding consistency. 

Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns

After three strong games, things certainly went the wrong way for Johnson on Sunday as he made just one of nine shots from the field. Opposing forwards generally do well against Atlanta, and Johnson should be in position to bounce back from his poor shooting night. 

 

Dart Throw

Damion Lee, Phoenix Suns

Lee scored 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench on Monday and he continues to be a source, although inconsistently, of offense. The playing time and the shots should be there on a nightly basis, but Lee just needs to knock them down. 

AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks

Griffin can be a solid source of offense off the bench for the Hawks, and while sometimes it does depend on game flow, he is averaging 9.8 points in 22 minutes in his last five games. Not much has to go right for Griffin to get into double figures offensively. Unless value truly emerges tonight, players like Griffin are going to be your best sources of value. 

 

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