Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
O/U: 224.5
Spread: PHX -7.0
Injuries
Phoenix
Frank Kaminsky OUT
Abdel Nader OUT
Dario Saric OUT
Los Angeles
LeBron James PROB
Trevor Ariza PROB
Kent Bazemore OUT
Avery Bradley OUT
Anthony Davis OUT
Malik Monk OUT
Kendrick Nunn OUT
Austin Reaves OUT
MVP/CPT
LeBron James, PG/SF – Well, if Sunday was any indication of what the next four weeks will be like without Anthony Davis, this is going to be a fun ride with some vintage LeBron. A cool 63.5 DK points including the most shots he has taken in two weeks and a whopping 14 rebounds. James has 24 rebounds in the past two games without Davis and that will be the part of his game that is impacted the most. There is no defense that can contain or stop James when he gets this kind of usage (33% Sunday), so just sit back and enjoy watching the points roll in.
Russell Westbrook, PG – Westbrook was equally as impressive on Sunday, scoring 46.25 DK points, just the third time he reached that threshold in his last nine games. His usage was at 31% and he spent plenty of time alternating off the court with LeBron, allowing them both to have stretches of the game where they could dominate. The 19 shots and nine rebounds were especially encouraging in the first full game without Davis. The Suns do represent a tough matchup, but they do allow top-ten figures in both rebounds and assists to opposing point guards. The opportunity for a double-double or triple-double bonus tonight is certainly in play.
Chris Paul, PG – Any point guard one on one with Russell Westbrook looks appealing in DFS for two reasons: First, the lackadaisical defense Westbrook typically displays. Second, Westbrook is one of the highest-paced individual players in the league and the Lakers rank first as team in pace this year. All that adds up to the Lakers allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the position this year. Paul has produced under 30 DK points just once in his last seven games and is almost $3,000 less than LeBron in the MVP spot.
UTIL
Deandre Ayton, C – Oh what might have been on Sunday if Ayton received a full allotment of minutes against the Charlotte Hornets. Ayton put up 43.75 DK points in just 24 minutes and didn’t play most of the last quarter due to the 30-point blowout. That type of blowout is not likely to happen tonight so we should get a full 35 minutes from Ayton, which should mean DFS gold. Ayton is now at 1.15 fantasy points per minute, which is slightly higher than even Devin Booker this year. With no Anthony Davis or Dwight Howard to worry about tonight, this could be a huge Ayton game.
Devin Booker, PG/SG – Booker returned to action on Sunday and played just 26 minutes in the blowout but was still able to manage 34.5 DK points. Assuming he is ramped up to play a full 32-34 minutes tonight, he has a truly elite matchup. The Lakers allow the sixth-most fantasy points to shooting guards including the second-most rebounds, most assists and most steals. Booker already torched the Lakers for 22 points, five rebounds and four assists once this season, so a repeat is certainly in play. Booker’s most recent Showdown salaries are all $10,400 or above, so the $9,400 tag tonight is like stealing.
Carmelo Anthony, PF – With so many players out on the Lakers right now, they are counting on big minutes from Anthony every single night. He crossed 30 minutes and 38 fantasy points on Sunday and should be in line for at least that amount of court time moving forward with Davis out. Sunday also represented the most shots (17) and the highest usage rate (27.6%) all season for Anthony.
Value Tier
Isaiah Thomas, PG – So much for being eased back into things after being called up to the big squad from the G-League. Despite playing just three games in the NBA since the beginning of 2020, Thomas was out there for 32 minutes on Sunday, and he posted a very strong 13 points on 46% shooting, good for 17.5 DK points. The game prior he produced 25.5 points in just 22 minutes, so it’s clear Thomas is on the Lakers to play and not just be a warm body. At just $3,800 and very few bargain-basement relevant players in this one, Thomas looks like the best source for a potential 8x of his salary.
DeAndre Jordan, C – Jordan is going to get 20 minutes per game moving forward not because he is any good or because the Lakers like him. It will simply be because they need big bodies with Davis out of commission. With Anthony Davis off the floor, Jordan’s DK points go up by 2.9 per game including a 24.2% rebound rate. He responded on Sunday with 19 DK points in 21 minutes, and that will definitely work for a $2,000 salary tonight. The Suns do rank just 14th in the league in defensive rebound rate, the opportunity is there for Jordan to grab a bunch of boards and block a couple shots.