Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers

Total: 229.5

Spread: -6.5 LAL
 

Sacramento Injuries:

 

Los Angeles Injuries:

 

MVP/CPT

 

LeBron James, LAL

I mean, this one’s easy. LBJ has looked as good as ever as just over his last five games, he’s averaged 35.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 blocks, 2.2 steals and 69 DKP. You’d be hard pressed to find ANYONE across the league with those types of numbers. The Kings are eighth in pace and 26th in DRtg, so advantage LBJ on both fronts.


Tyrese Haliburton, SAC

Even since De’Aaron Fox returned, Haliburton has been the man. He’s been setting up his teammates time and time again as he’s notched 10+ assists in four straight games. He’s given us a very solid 30 FP floor over his last 10 and has twice topped 40 FP with De’Aaron Fox back in the lineup. Haliburton averages a very solid .97 FP/min with Fox on the floor this year and is a nice contrarian CPT play off LBJ, even though I advise against pivoting from LBJ in the CPT spot.


De’Aaron Fox, SAC

As we saw last game, the big fantasy days for Fox are not behind him. Without Richaun Holmes on the floor he was able to grab six boards and put up 43.5 DKP. It was the first time in five games he topped 20 actual points, which is crazy to think about because he’s averaging 20.3 PPG this season. Fox has played very well against the Lakers this year, averaging 25.5 points and 43.1 DKP/game in two meetings.


UTIL


Buddy Hield, SAC

It’s hard not to think that Hield about how much longer will Hield be in Sacramento. They’ve played with his minutes for the last two seasons and it’s very hard to gauge in terms of fantasy basketball. He’s been linked to trades with the Lakers in the past and I’m not sure it’s a coincidence he’s averaged 36.1 minutes per game against them in what’s become a showcase for each team. He topped 25 minutes for the first time in five games his last time out and we’re going to take a shot on the streaky shooter in our showdown lines.


Malik Monk, LAL

It’s hard to love Monk at this price, but he’s paying it off essentially every night. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 33.5 minutes and 30.1 FP/game. He’s scored 20+ actual in three of five, has hit multiple three’s in five straight games as well, so he provides the Lakers great spacing. The match-up against a bottom-five defensive team doesn’t hurt either.


Carmelo Anthony, LAL

There’s no place to play Anthony like a showdown slate considering what he is. He’s a very streaky scorer at this point but streaky scorers in showdown really pay off handsomely when the shot is dropping. Anthony has scored 14+ actual points in four of five games and has averaged 30.6 DKP/game over that span. I keep mentioning how good of a match-up it is from an offensive standpoint, but it really is just that.

 

Talen Horton-Tucker & Austin Reaves, LAL

I understand they’re priced a little differently, but the point for both is the same. Before Stanley Johnson arrived, both were firmly in the rotation. They both have been playing low 20’s minutes lately with Johnson around, but Johnson had topped 20+ minutes in each game he played in. Well, the Lakers did not re-sign him and thus, those minutes open up to other guys. Sure there is a chance Trevor Ariza plays himself into 20 minutes or so, but THT and Reaves will be the first two guys to get a crack at it.


Damian Jones, SAC

There’s no reason to think that with Richaun Holmes out again, Damian Jones doesn’t start here. He had found his way into the rotation prior to Holmes’ injury and in his first start of the year, he put up an 18-point double-double. A small part of me thinks you could even use Jones in the captain spot if you’re looking to spend up on both LBJ and Russell Westbrook, as well as De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton. 

 

Avery Bradley, LAL

Bradley comes into Tuesday’s contest listed probable. He has started each of the last four games and has averaged 29.2 MPG over that span. He’s twice topped 20 FP but we know he’s not exactly an offensive-minded player and sometimes is phased out of that part of the game. With Stanley Johnson not re-signed, Bradley could see an even bigger uptick in minutes moving forward.