Friday’s NBA DFS showdown playbook features a matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Both of these teams surprised on opening night as the Clippers were shockingly blown out by the Utah Jazz despite being double-digit point favorites heading into the contest.

Meanwhile, the Suns, who many expect to struggle this season, pulled off a win against the Sacramento Kings despite being down the newly acquired Jalen Green.

This matchup tonight still features the Clippers as heavy favorites but if Devin Booker continues to shoot the basketball at a high volume and with efficiency, this game could certainly be more competitive than expected.

 

 

 

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Spread & Total

  • Spread: Clippers -9.5
  • Total: 228.5

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Notable Injuries 

 

 

 

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Projected Lineups

Suns:

Clippers:

 

 

 

NBA DFS Showdown MVP/Captain for NBA on Prime Matchup, 10/24

James Harden, PG Los Angeles Clippers

Harden's performance in the opener saw him play just 29 minutes, given the blowout. That said, he did finish with a double-double, scoring 15 points while dishing out 11 assists, which underscores his pivotal role in the Clippers' offensive scheme, making him a premier captain selection against a Suns team that has some questions defensively. As the home favorites, his potential for high-volume assists and scoring positions him for substantial fantasy output.

Devin Booker, PG/SG Phoenix Suns

With Green sidelined, Booker's 19 field goal attempts are likely going to be where he sits this season, and truthfully, even when Green returns, we should still expect Booker to approach 20 shot attempts per game. That shot volume alone makes him a solid option for your captain/MVP slot.

Ivica Zubac, C Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have a revamped bench with better depth at the center position, but Zubac still saw 27 minutes on opening night and looked good, scoring 19 points with seven rebounds. He should have a pretty solid matchup tonight against Phoenix's frontcourt duo of Ighodaro and Williams. 

 

 

 

Mid-Tier & DFS Value Plays for Friday

Kawhi Leonard, SF/PF Los Angeles Clippers

A healthy Kawhi Leonard played 29 minutes in the season opener, which suggests that if the game was actually competitive, we could have gotten 32 to 35 minutes. When healthy and playing, we know Leonard can be one of the best end-to-end players in the NBA. You can absolutely use him as a captain or MVP if you like tonight, and he will likely be a bit more contrarian in that spot.

Dillon Brooks, SG/SF Phoenix Suns

Can we rely on Dillon Brooks scoring 22 points every night? No, absolutely not, but he took TWENTY-FOUR shot attempts against the Kings, and if all of a sudden, on a bad Suns team, that is missing Jalen Green, we are going to see Brooks get the green light to shoot the basketball, then these types of scoring nights could very well continue to be in the card every now and then. Adding to his scoring against the Kings, we saw his typical stat line, which featured four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Brooks could be a sneaky value captain to play here this evening.

John Collins, PF/C Los Angeles Clippers

Collins started on the bench but played 28 minutes, and it wouldn’t shock me to see that be more of the trend this season as he plays a sixth-man role in this Clippers rotation with Derrick Jones starting and offering some defensive upside before Collins comes in to be the offensive role player for the second unit.

Grayson Allen, SG/SF Phoenix Suns

The one thing we know Grayson Allen can do is shoot the basketball, and on opening night, he hit 6-of-12 from the field which included shooting 42% from three-point range.

However, adding to his scoring, we also got five rebounds and seven assists. If Allen is going to start filling up the box score while Jalen Green is out of the lineup, he will be a great fantasy asset.

Royce O'Neale, SF/PF Phoenix Suns

O'Neale came off the bench and played 29 minutes in the opener, producing 12 points with five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. It seems like the Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro spots in the lineup are the ones that are going to be rotated through, with Dunn playing just 25 minutes and Ighodaro playing just 19 minutes.

 

 

 

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