Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Clippers
Spread: LAC -4
O/U: 217.5

Injuries

Bulls

Nikola Vucevic - OUT
Patrick Williams - OUT

Clippers

Kawhi Leonard - OUT
Marcus Morris - QUEST

*Note - Serge Ibaka is currently in the G-League.

**Note - The Clippers are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.

MVP/CPT

Paul George, LAC

This is not an easy match-up for anyone involved as both teams have been very strong on the defensive end of the ball this year. George, however, is the main man in Los Angeles right now. On the year, George has a 34.1% USG rate and averages 1.41 FP/min. This is a back-to-back for the Clippers, but the starters were able to rest the entire fourth quarter due to their blowout win against the Timberwolves. George is the top spend up here.

Zach LaVine, CHI

It was a disappointing performance against the Warriors for everyone on the Bulls the last time we saw them play on Friday, but Sunday’s a new game. They catch the Clippers on the second leg of a back-to-back and that could play in their favor. LaVine has a team-leading 37.4% USG rate with Nikola Vucevic off the floor this year and his 1.21 FP/min is the second highest mark on the team as well. A lot of the CPT ownership will be split between he and DeMar DeRozan on this slate.

Eric Bledsoe, LAC

Didn’t think you’d see Bledsoe make it here, did ya? Well, he’s been worthy of the nomination when you consider what he’s been doing. He has three straight games with at least 31 DKP and the last two he’s topped 35. The minutes are up, the scoring is way up and Bledsoe’s always been a guy who can contribute in multiple facets of the game and he hasn’t skipped a beat there. Over the last two weeks, Bledsoe has averaged a very respectable .91 FP/min. He allows you to afford many of the top spend ups here (George, LaVine, DeRozan).

Mid Tier

Reggie Jackson, LAC

The guy just keeps scoring. If you’re playing cash or just want someone with a safe floor in your showdown lines, Jackson’s your guy. Even in a blowout, a game in which he played just 27 minutes in, Jackson scored 21 actual and 30.5 DKP. He’s now scored 20+ actual in five of six games and the one in which he didn’t he put up 19.

Lonzo Ball, CHI

Ball is in need of a bounceback after his dreadful performance against the Warriors. He shot just 2-for-11 from the field and 1-of-7 from three, a game after knocking down seven threes and scoring 21 actual points. He has serious upside, especially with Vucevic out, considering he instantly becomes one of the Bulls primary scoring options. Reggie Jackson has a career 109 DRtg and hasn’t had less than a 110 mark since the 2015-’16 season.

Ivica Zubac, LAC

Zubac was well on his way to another big game if the game hadn’t gotten away from the Timberwolves and they remained at all competitive. Zubac, in just 23 minutes, notched a double-double, his fourth over the last five games. His playing time is trending upwards and the production has matched that. Considering this game should be more competitive, Zubac should get back to the 25+ minutes he had played in four of the five games prior to Saturday.

Value Tier

Alex Caruso, CHI

With or without Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso has had a role. Without him, there is a better chance the Bulls elect to run smaller lineups, keeping Caruso on the floor. He’s a very strong two-way player that specializes in defense. In seven of his last 10 games, he’s had two or more steals. When the shot is falling, we can see 30 FP upside out of him.

Isaiah Hartenstein, LAC

He obviously benefited from the blowout on Saturday, but Hartenstein absolutely dominated during his 25 minutes of run. He put up a 12 point, 12 rebound effort that also saw him chip in with four assists and three blocks. He does a LOT in a short period of time and he averages 1.26 FP/min, so even in 15-17 minutes, which has been his standard, he provides us with enough value on this showdown slate to plug into our lines.

Alize Johnson, CHI

When assessing the situation and how things played out for the Chicago big men, it was clear that just because someone starts, doesn’t mean they’re the preferred option. It was Johnson who played 21 minutes in the first three quarters while Bradley just played 13. Johnson didn’t play at all in the fourth, in a blowout, or he could have approached 30 minutes. He nearly notched a double-double and was not shy about getting shots up, putting up seven in his time on the floor. I think Johnson’s a fairly nice upside play here while many pivot away from the Bulls big men value.