Tonight’s NBA schedule comes to a conclusion with the Suns traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers in what is projected to be a close game. The best player on each team, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, will not be taking the court tonight, and it cannot be ignored that Deandre Ayton will be sidelined for the Suns. As you work on setting your lineups, let us dig into some options to consider for the NBA DFS Showdown Slate. 

 

Injuries

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant – Out

Deandre Ayton - Out

Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James – Out

Anthony Davis – Probable (Foot)

 

NBA DFS Showdown Slate Picks

MVP/Captain

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

We know who the Lakers’ offense centers itself around, and not having Ayton to contend with will make things that much easier for Davis tonight. Davis is coming off a down game in which made just six of 15 shots from the field, but at 25.8 points per game on the season, we shouldn’t be concerned. The fact that we are also getting, at worst, double-digit rebounds also help here. 

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

The Lakers struggle defensively and Booker is coming off a monster 46 point effort on Sunday against the Thunder, so things line up perfectly here. With 31 points per game in his last five, Booker really is rolling offensively as of late which is much needed considering we only get, on average, a few rebounds and assists per game. But with that being said, it is difficult to overlook the upside here. 

Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

There was not much defense played on Sunday between the Suns and Thunder, and we should see something along the same lines tonight. The takeaway here is that Paul took 15 shots, not necessarily that he only made five of them, as we are looking for the volume  knowing that he is averaging 13.5 points per game on the season. Instead, it was his 13 assists on Sunday and 11 per game on the season that we are really after coupled with whatever scoring we get. 

 

Utility

Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

Talk about stepping up and really taking the next step on Sunday as Reaves scored 35 points in 30 minutes in a victory against Orlando. While we cannot get in the position of chasing here, Reaves is averaging 20 points in his last six games to go along with 4.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game as he continues to emerge as a key piece of what the Lakers are doing. 

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

Russell has also been a key piece of the Lakers’ offense, and even though he is shooting 45.4% from the field, volume is not something we have to worry about here. In his last six games, Russell is averaging a strong 20.8 points and 7.3 assists per game and there is some upside here as well. 

Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns

Craig continues to log a ton of minutes for the Suns, and if he was a more consistent scorer this would certainly be better, but the forward still gives us enough to work with for the price. He is not going to block four shots every game like he did on Sunday, but he is averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. 

 

Dart Throw

Landry Shamet, Phoenix Suns

After missing two months, Shamet returned to action on Sunday and scored 10 points in 20 minutes of action. The expectation is that Shamet will get an increased role, and more than four shot attempts from the field, tonight as he works to shake off the rust. 

Jock Landale, Phoenix Suns

Landale has had a limited role with the Suns as of late, but we have seen him hit double figures offensively when given the chance and volume, and with Ayton out, that should be the case tonight. 

Troy Brown, Los Angeles Lakers

Brown continues to play around 25 to 30 minutes a night for the Lakers in a supporting role for the Lakers, but the bad news is that he only has reached double figures once in his last five games. Following the minutes is not the worst strategy here but we are looking for upside on the seven points, 2.7 rebounds, and two assists he is averaging in his last six games.