Spread: Clippers -5.5
Total: 217.5
Injuries
Los Angeles Clippers:
Kawhi Leonard – Out
Marcus Morris – Out
Isaiah Hartenstein - Out
Sacramento Kings:
De’aaron Fox – Out
Richaun Holmes – Questionable (Eye)
Marvin Bagley – Out
Terence Davis – Out
Alex Len – Out
Davion Mitchell - Out
**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
MVP/CPT
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG (SAC) – With Fox out again, it’s all about Haliburton here. It’s hard to miss Haliburton’s performance over the past four games as he has gone between 42 and 54 DK points averaging 20 points and just over 10 assists per game along with 5.5 rebounds. The usage and volume have been there for Haliburton as of late and while he has always filled the box score, the offense is now front and center as well.
Paul George, SG/SF (LAC) – In 30 minutes on Monday, George scored 25 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists in what has been a customary effort for him this season. While George hasn’t flashed much in the way of upside past the 50-fantasy point mark, he comes pretty close to that mark on a nightly basis. There is no disputing George’s skill set here, but there is a lot of roster management that comes into play here as the next closest option to him in the captain spot is $4.2k cheaper.
Buddy Hield, SG/SG (SAC) – Dropping down to Hield gives us even more cost savings, and his offensive game has been firing on all cylinders as of late. The 29-points he scored two games ago against the Spurs is clearly the upper range of what we can expect from him, but in Hield’s last seven games he is averaging 18.1 points and 30 DK points. While the majority of Hield’s production does come from his offense, the move into the starting lineup has helped his cause.
Util
Reggie Jackson, PG (LAC) – Jackson does play second fiddle to George and he is averaging 17.2 points on the season while continuing to shoot around 15 times a game. What does hold him back is the lack of other consistent production, but he occasionally flashes upside in the assist department.
Harrison Barnes, SF/PF (SAC) – Barnes has seen his price and production drop this season, but over his last four games (yes, there is a theme with Sacramento short-handed), Barnes has picked up the pace. In reality, Barnes has just consistently hit his season averages of 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds as of late, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Chimezie Metu, PF (SAC) – Metu has risen to the occasion of all the extra playing time and he continues to deliver in the starting lineup. He is coming off a solid 16 point, six rebound performance and we should get a similar performance tonight.
Luke Kennard, SG (LAC) – Is Kennard going to take 16 or eight shots tonight? I know we are looking for a little more certainty here, but the minutes will continue to be there for Kennard and the value is in the shot attempts. Prior to Kennard’s five-point dud against the Spurs on Monday, he consistently was scoring in double figures as he has become one the Clippers’ main scoring options.
Terance Mann, PG/SF (LAC) – Mann has been getting all the playing time he can handle as of late, but that doesn’t mean we are without risk. We are getting closer to minimizing it though although it’s hard to miss the three-point effort against Utah last week that was sandwiched around four strong offensive efforts.
Ivica Zubac, C (LAC) – With Hartenstein out, the Clippers will rely on Zubac for about 30 minutes once again, and he is capable of a double-double on a nightly basis. At the same time though, that doesn’t mean he will reach that mark on a daily basis but Zubac does average 24.5 DK points.
Dart Throws
Tristan Thompson, C (SAC) – Sacramento is thin in the front court, and even thinner if Holmes doesn’t return, and that has allowed Thompson to carve out a role playing close to 30-minutes a night. That might drop slightly tonight, but he should get enough playing time to once again flirt with double-double.
Serge Ibaka, PF/C (LAC) – Ibaka returned to action after a two-week absence and got 17 minutes of run on Monday. The opportunity a workload of at least that level remains tonight and it’s hard to argue with the price after he put up four points (on one of six shooting) while grabbing eight rebounds.