Spread: GSW -7.0
Total: 215.5
Injuries
Denver
Monte Morris PROB
Aaron Gordon QUEST
Bol Bol QUEST
Jamal Murray OUT
Michael Porter OUT
PJ Dozier OUT
Markus Howard OUT
Golden State
Andre Igoudala PROB
Draymond Green OUT
Damion Lee OUT
Jordan Poole OUT
Klay Thompson OUT
James Wiseman OUT
Moses Moody OUT
MVP/Captain
Steph Curry, PG – Steph may not give you the day-in, day-out massive ceiling as Jokic, but he has put up an average of 60 DK point in his last two games and comes at an MVP-salary $2,400 discount from Jokic tonight. And whereas Jokic matches up against the worst team against centers for fantasy points, Curry faces the team allowing the third-most points to the point guard position. The clear play off a popular Jokic in the MVP spot tonight is to pivot to Curry.
Nikola Jokic, C – What more can be said at this point? Jokic has played in 27 games this season and has scored less than 50 DK point in five of them. And only one game below that mark since December 2nd. He offers the double-double and triple-double upside that no other player can match on this Showdown with Draymond Green out. You are certainly going to be paying for him in this spot, but at only 21,900 for a guaranteed 60 points, you can find value elsewhere.
Utility
Andrew Wiggins, SG/SF – Wiggins will return after missing 10 days due to COVID protocols and will try to pick up where he left off, when he was scorching hot for a stretch of about six games. In that span before the time off, Wiggins averaged 34.4 DK points per game in just over 33 minutes a night. With Green and Jordan Poole out tonight, the offense should run through Curry and Wiggins and the latter could easily hit 25% usage in this game.
Will Barton, SG – Much like Wiggins is to Curry, Barton is the Robin to Jokic’s Batman these days. With no Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. around, Barton has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 16 games and is back to playing mid-30’s minutes after a stretch of blowouts kept him off the court for long stretches earlier this month. At a nice $1,000 salary discount from Wiggins, and a pace-up game coming for the Nuggets, Barton looks like a strong fit in lineups tonight.
Otto Porter, Jr., SF/PF - Considering role, opportunity and salary, there may not be a better value play tonight than Porter, whose salary has not risen enough given the role he must play with the Warriors missing so many key pieces. He now has a three-game streak of at least 29 minutes and at least 31 DK points, including averaging seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal in his last four games. Porter should be used on Aaron Gordon tonight (assuming he is active), so this could easily be 30+ minutes and a chance to 6x his $5,400 salary.
Value Tier
Jeff Green, PF/C – At a $4,000 salary, we just need a level of consistency, and that is exactly what Green brings to the table tonight. He played at least 22 minutes in 22 of his last 23 games, scored in double figures in 13 of those, and will get an added boost in the offense if Aaron Gordon sits out. This is the lowest Showdown salary Green has seen this season, so a 5x payoff is certainly within reach.
Juan Toscano-Anderson, PF – Toscano-Anderson has stepped up in a big way just when the Warriors needed him the most. In his last four games (while the Warriors dealt with a litany of injuries), Porter has played 23 minutes per night and produced 19.8 DK points per game along the way. The good news for tonight is the Nuggets are now down to 21st on the year in defensive rating against forwards, so for $3,600 he makes a strong case as someone needed in all your lineups tonight.