Miami Heat @ Phoenix Suns

Total: 217.5

Spread: PHX -9

MIA

Jimmy Butler - OUT

Zylan Cheatham - OUT

Bam Adebayo - OUT

Gabe Vincent - OUT

Victor Oladipo - OUT

Dewayne Dedmon - OUT

KZ Okpala - OUT

Marcus Garrett - OUT

Nik Stauskas - OUT

Udonis Haslen - OUT

Mario Chalmers - OUT

Markieff Morris - OUT

PHX

Deandre Ayton - IN

Jae Crowder - IN

JaVale McGee - IN

Frank Kaminsky - OUT

Landry Shamet - OUT

Abdel Nader - OUT

Dario Saric - OUT

MVP/CPT

Devin Booker, PHX

Booker is a very high ceiling player that also offers a pretty low floor. He went 5-of-22 from the floor last game and scored just 11 actual points, but in two of the four prior games, he scored over 30 actual points and had 50+ DKP. If Jimmy Butler suits up it could be a little more challenging for him offensively, but Booker is one of the most explosive scorers in the league today.

Chris Paul, PHX

Although Deandre Ayton is back and will probably end the five or more rebound run CP3 is on, Paul is setting EVERYONE up right now. He’s notched 10+ assists in three straight games, and has 40+ DKP in three straight. Paul’s floor/ceiling with the way he’s playing right now might be as high as anyone else in this game.

Kyle Lowry, MIA

With Jimmy Butler officially ruled out, it’s going to be on Kyle Lowry’s shoulders to try and keep them competitive in this game against one of the league’s best teams and defenses. Lowry, with Butler, Adebayo and Vincent off the floor, averages 1.1 FP/min. He’s a monster and was well on his way to one of those vintage Lowry monster performances when they need him most until he was thrown out of the game on a ticky tack call.

UTIL

Tyler Herro, MIA

Another guy that will have the ball A LOT here without Jimmy Butler on the floor. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Herro will play a LOT and take a ton of shots. He always has the green light. He has a 30.1% USG rate with Butler, Adebayo and Vincent off the floor and averages over one FP/min as well.

Deandre Ayton, PHX

What will Ayton look like in his return is the question? He last played on Christmas Day but had been rolling when he was placed in the protocols, notching double-doubles in five of six games. The Heat are starting rookie Omer Yurtseven at center and for as good as a rebounder he is, he’s not great on the defensive end and Ayton could eat him up.

Omer Yurtseven, MIA

The guy is just always where the basketball is. Over the last five games, Yurtseven has AVERAGED 15.2 rebounds per game and has actually topped that number in three straight outings. He’s also been a decent scorer and he’s notched four double-doubles over that five game stretch. He has a nice floor and some solid upside at this price point.

Max Strus, MIA

On the outside of things, Strus looks too expensive, but then you start to digest things a little more and he’s actually a solid play. No Butler, no Vincent, no Morris, no Okpala. All guys that could and would likely take him off the floor at times. With all of them out, Strus likely starts and plays 30+ minutes here. With the guys that are out for Heat, Strus averages 1.12 FP/min.

P.J. Tucker, MIA

We have some revenge, here! Tucker was a former Sun for a pretty long time and he comes into this game playing really well and is needed to do just that considering who’s out. He notched a double-double last time out while putting out six assists as well. He has a VERY low floor and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I failed to mention that.

Kyle Guy, MIA

If this game blows out, which is definitely possible, Guy would benefit from that. He’s been getting a lot of run with all of the Heat guys out and there’s no reason to think it won’t happen again. He’s been good, scoring 17+ DKP in three of four games and twice topping 20.