NBA Showdown Playbook February 5: Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves DFS Picks
We have an intriguing matchup for the NBA DFS Showdown on this beautiful Sunday night. We have Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets who are on the second night of a back-to-back taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Injury Report
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray - Doubtful
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - TBD
Jack White - TBD
Aaron Gordon - Doubtful
Nikola Jokic - OUT
Minnesota Timberwolves
Rudy Gobert - Questionable
Kyle Anderson - Questionable
Austin Rivers - OUT
Jordan McLaughlin - Questionable
NBA DFS Showdown Slate Picks
MVP/Captain
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is the obvious play at the captain spot tonight. He is just $1,800 more than Anthony Edwards which does not seem too bad in my eyes. I was surprised to not see him on the injury report this morning after playing last night. However, that doesn't mean he won't be added later today. Jokic also has a triple-double in three straight games. Play him in this one.
Edit: Jokic has been ruled as doubtful tonight. The obvious pivot is to Edwards at the captain spot.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
This is Anthony Edward's team in Minnesota and it shows in his play. He has scored at least 25 points in seven of his last eight games. He has also scored 46 fantasy points in those seven of eight games as well. He is just seeing great volume with KAT out of the lineup and I do not think that will change until he comes back. I like Edwards in this one, but if I am choosing between him or Jokic, the answer is Jokic.
D'Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves
Russell is coming off a great game in which he posted a line of 29-6-10 finishing with 58 fantasy points. It would have been a better night but Russell found himself turning the ball over six times. That was his biggest fantasy output of the season, and I get if you do not want to bank on that happening once again. He did struggle in their last matchup against the Nuggets scoring just 23 fantasy points.
Utility
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
If Jamal Murray is out tonight I like Michael Porter Jr. even more. With Jamal Murray in the lineup in his career Porter averages just 12.9 points per game. With him not playing Porter's output jumps up to 18.6 points per game. If Murray plays I still like Porter, but much more if he is out.
Kyle Anderson, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyle Anderson is questionable heading into this one with a back injury that has caused him problems for most of the season. But when he plays he is very productive. Before the injury last game, he had scored at least 29 fantasy points in three of his prior four games. We have also seen him post 50-point fantasy games this year, so you know that ceiling is there. Just know there is some risk with him dealing with the back injury.
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ok, Reid is a gamble, especially if Gobert plays. But if he hits, he can win the slate as he did a few games ago when he scored 52 fantasy points. But he is also capable of struggling and not even scoring in the 20-point fantasy point range. He is risky at price, but if he hits, look out.
Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
Brown really struggled in his last outing going 2-9 from the field. But as always he was active with three steals and five assists finishing with over 24 fantasy points. If he shoots better in this one and keeps up with that same intensity Brwon could score over 30 fantasy points especially if KCP and Murray are both out.
Dart Throws
Vlatko Cancar, Denver Nuggets
Cancar could get some extra run tonight if Denver has some surprise inactive after playing last night. He has played at least 20 minutes in three straight games and has reached 30 fantasy points during that span. I like taking a shot at him with his price sitting at $2,000.
Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets
Nraun is looking like a guy that has taken Bones Hyland's spot in the rotation. There are reports that Denver could be shopping him so that could be the reason. Braun has scored at least 20 fantasy points in back-to-back games. With that ceiling that Braun has at $1,800, why would you not put him in? It might give you the chance to play Edwards and Jokic together. That's what I plan on doing tonight.
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Player News
Isaiah Stewart (knee) is questionable to play in Game 6 against the Knicks on Thursday.
Stewart has missed Detroit’s last four games but could return for the final game in Detroit of this series. The Pistons must win to stay alive, but that wasn’t enough of a factor for Stewart to play through the injury in Game 5. If he remains out, Paul Reed will continue to fill out the backup center minutes.
Ivica Zubac had a productive outing, finishing with 27 points (11-of-15 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, one assist and two blocks in the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Zubac continued to score the ball well, finishing with a series-high in points on efficient shooting. However, Zubac’s usual impact on the glass was absent as he secured just five rebounds in Game 5 after tallying at least nine in the previous four, with his one assist also tying his lowest output of the series. Down in the series 3-2, the Clippers head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday, where they face a must-win situation to keep their season alive.
James Harden concluded Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets with 11 points (3-of-9 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
Harden had a quiet night on Tuesday, barely cracking double figures in scoring and failing to register double-digit shot attempts. The 2018 NBA MVP has faced a stifling Nuggets defense that, over the last few games, has forced the ball out of his hands, leading to inferior performances compared to earlier games in the series. Harden will look for a bounce-back performance on Thursday as he tries to lead the Clippers to a season-saving victory in Game 6.
Kawhi Leonard stuffed the stat sheet in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, posting 20 points (8-of-15 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Leonard did a little bit of everything for the Clippers in Game 5. The two-time NBA Finals MVP posted a series-high in assists and also hit the glass hard, resulting in a near-triple-double. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in all five games of this series. However, the Clippers may need even more from him going forward as they look to extend their season beyond Thursday’s Game 6 at the Intuit Dome.
Nikola Jokic earned a triple-double in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win on Tuesday over the Clippers, finishing with 13 points (4-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
The three-time NBA MVP had a relatively quiet game by his standards, but still came away with his third triple-double of the series. Jokic struggled with shooting efficiency, and his scoring output was the lowest of the series. Yet, his points were not as necessary in this game, given how well the rest of the Nuggets shot the ball. Nevertheless, Jokic will be in line for another big performance on Thursday when the Nuggets face the Clippers in Game 6.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench and produced 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), one rebound, one assist and three three-pointers in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win over the Clippers on Tuesday.
Westbrook was electric in his first game back in the lineup following a foot injury that kept him out of Game 4. His second-quarter scoring ignited the crowd and helped set the table for what would be his highest-scoring game of the postseason. The 2017 NBA MVP has had himself a nice series thus far from a scoring standpoint and will have a chance to end his former team’s season on Thursday in Game 6.