NBA Showdown Playbook January 24: Los Angeles Clippers vs Los Angeles Lakers DFS Picks
We have an interesting matchup for our DFS Showdown slate tonight. It is the Battle of Los Angeles as LeBron James and the Lakers are taking on Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the Clippers. The Lakers look to snap their nine-game losing streak that they are on against the Clippers.
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Injury Report
Los Angeles Clippers
Luke Kennard - OUT
Moses Brown - OUT
John Wall - OUT
Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James - Questionable
Rui Hachimura - OUT
Austin Reaves - OUT
Lonnie Walker - OUT
Anthony Davis - OUT
NBA DFS Showdown Slate Picks
MVP/Captain
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Lebron heads into this game as questionable as he seems to be every night. The Lakers are on a front end of a back-to-back so I would imagine that he will suit up in this contest and more than likely sit during tomorrow's contest. Lebron has scored over 60 fantasy points in four of his last five games. He has the highest ceiling on the slate tonight and should be your captain.
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Over the last three games with Paul George back in the lineup, it looks to be Kawhi who is the alpha in this offense. He has played at least 36 minutes in three-straight games and has scored over 49 fantasy points in two of those three games. Kawhi has also been on a tear scoring the basketball as well, scoring at least 24 in seven straight games. On incredible efficiency as well shooting at least 50% in all seven of those games.
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers
Westbrook is coming off a clunker in which he shot terribly. He shot just 3-13 scoring just six points but he still dished out five assists and grabbed eight rebounds to salvage his night for fantasy purposes. He is in the MVP portion of this over Paul George because he just has a higher ceiling than George does. I do not mind the play of Westbrook tonight,
Utility
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
George has been fine since coming back from his hamstring injury. He is averaging 16-6-5 and 35 fantasy points. His ceiling each night doesn't seem to be there however with Kawhi Leonard in the lineup as well. Leonard has outscored George in each game since he has been back. I am not telling you not play him on this slate, but he is a little too pricey for my liking at $10,000.
Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
With Paul George back in the lineup Norman Powell was moved back to the bench. Terence Mann has been starting at the defacto point guard spot, but Powell has played more minutes than him in three-straight games. Powell has just been killing it offensively scoring at least 16 points in seven straight games. I am in on Powell tonight as you should be as well.
Thomas Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas Bryant just exploded again in the Lakers last game going for 31-14 and finishing with 55 fantasy points. He had been trending in the wrong direction before that game as he hadn't played more than 22 minutes in the four games prior. Wenyen Gabrial had been eating away at his minutes, and I am not sure why, Bryant is the superior player.
Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers
Shroder has played at least 33 minutes in three of his last four games and has put up great numbers in back-to-back games. He put up 46 and 49 fantasy while dishing out eight assists in each game. The glaring number that sticks out is that he has gotten to the line 10 times in his last two games as well. That may not continue, but if Schroder keeps attacking like this he is a good play.
Dart Throws
Troy Brown Jr., Los Angeles Lakers
With all the wing issues the Lakers have, Troy Brown might be your best option as we wait for the debut of Rui Hachimura in a Lakers uniform. Brown has scored at least 15 fantasy points in five straight with three games over 20. He doesn't have the ceiling you would like, but he should get some extended run in this after they traded away Kendrick Nunn yesterday.
Nicolas Batum, Los Angeles Clippers
It was hard picking between Batum and Covington but I ultimately ended up going with Batum, just because of the consistent minutes he gets. Batum has played 20 minutes or more in nine straight games. He has finished with 20 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games and that could continue tonight. Batum is a knockdown shooter and has at least four three-point attempts in four of his last five. If he keeps getting fed open looks from Kawhi, and George, Batum will continue to be a solid play at $3,600.
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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.