Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns
O/U: 220.5
Spread: PHX -10.5
Injuries
Phoenix
- Deandre Ayton OUT
- Jae Crowder OUT
- Frank Kaminsky OUT
- JaVale McGee OUT
- Abdel Nader OUT
- Dario Saric OUT
- Landry Shamet OUT
Los Angeles
- Nicolas Batum QUEST
- Paul George OUT
- Isaiah Hartenstein OUT
- Luke Kennard OUT
- Kawhi Leonard OUT
- Jason Preston OUT
- Ivica Zubac OUT
MVP/CPT
Devin Booker, PG/SG – Booker has been on an absolute roll lately, but so have the Suns. They are blowing out everyone, so Booker’s minutes have been down the last two games, averaging just 30.5 instead of his normal 35. He still managed 50.75 DK points in his last game in under 32 minutes and now is at 1.37 fantasy points per minute in the last 10 days. Clippers are bottom-10 against shooting guards this season including fifth-worst over their last 15 games.
Chris Paul, PG/SG – Paul’s $2,400 discount at MVP tonight looks awfully appealing, especially when you consider he is producing 40 DK points like clockwork, even in blowouts. The Clippers have even worse against point guards lately, as they sorely miss Paul George and his wing defense. They allow the second-most fantasy points to the position in the last seven games including giving up more than 12 assists per night (most in the NBA). If this game stays somewhat close, Paul could have a ceiling performance.
UTIL
Marcus Morris, SF/PF – Without Paul George, the Clippers have needed offense desperately and Morris has been up to the task lately. Before a fluke 17-fantasy point game on Monday, Morris averaged 39 DK points per game in his last five and he was fluctuating between 32-38 minutes every game. The Suns are missing four of their top-five frontcourt rotational players so Morris should be able to do what he wants on offense and continue a strong stretch of at least five rebounds in five of his last six games.
Reggie Jackson, PG – Jackson was another player who got caught up in the “scheduled loss” the Clippers took to the Timberwolves on Monday, and he only played 21 minutes, putting up his lowest fantasy score in over a month. Unless the Clippers waive the white flag early again, they are going to need Jackson to keep up with Paul and Booker, so look for big minutes after two days off and a light workload on Monday. Before Monday, Jackson had over 30 DK points in four of his last five games.
Jalen Smith, PF/C – With all of the bodies missing in the Suns’ frontcourt, Smith has been the man for them down low. He struggled with fouls and got nicked up in the game on Tuesday, but he still was able to muster 22.25 DK point in 16 minutes, continuing a streak of five games with more fantasy points than minutes played. Serge Ibaka will be a tough one-on-one matchup for Smith today, but the Clippers allow 24 points and 18 rebounds per game to centers in their last seven games, so Smith should have the opportunity to feast even if plays less than 30 minutes.
Value Tier
Serge Ibaka, PF/C – The Clippers are running Ibaka out there for 20 minutes a night while Zubac and Hartenstein are unavailable so his salary is not going to stay at $5,000 much longer. Ibaka is playing 20 minutes a night right now and is contributing his usual points, rebounds, and blocks every night. In this huge pace up spot for the Clippers, there should be plenty of extra possessions.
Cameron Payne, PG/SG – Payne’s DFS scored have been a roller coaster ride the last two weeks, as he has three games under 15 DK points and three games over 25. The minutes are consistently in the low- to mid-20’s so there’s no concern there. It all comes down to is he hitting shots or not? In the games with 25+ points, he shot almost 50% from the floor. In the games below 15, he is shooting 34.7% from the floor. The Clippers allow guards to shoot 45% from the floor over their last 10 games, so hopefully the shots are falling.