The NBA has decided to lighten up the schedule on Thursday, November 6th, as there is just ONE game on the docket and it’s between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns. It’s a battered Clippers team that’s without James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, while the Suns are getting healthier with Jalen Green expected to return to action as well. Seeing the Suns open as favorites shows the value of Harden and Leonard, but it’s an interesting game to watch and break down. Let’s get to that breakdown now!

Update - Grayson Allen has been downgraded to QUEST. It's interesting to note that Collin Gillespie is always Grayson Allen's sub pattern and although I think Royce O'Neale would definitely start before him, but Gillespie's role could be expanded and would enter the player pool.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns Total & Spread

  • Total: 224.5
  • Spread: PHX -3

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns Injury Updates

Clippers

Suns

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers

Suns

 

 

 

DFS Captain / MVP Picks

Devin Booker, PHX

(DK CPT - $17,400, UTIL - $11,600 / FD CPT - $20,700, UTIL - $13,600)

Naturally, we’re going to see Devin Booker have usage regression long term as Jalen Green is set to return, but he’s going to return in a limited role, and Booker is still going to dominate the ball. On the year without Dillon Brooks, he has a 32.5% USG rate and averages nearly 1.4 FP/min. He’s going to be extremely popular as a captain.

Ivica Zubac, LAC

(DK CPT - $12,900, UTIL - $8,600 / FD CPT - $15,900, UTIL - $10,600)

On the year, Ivica Zubac has played ONE singular minute without both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. That number will go way up tonight as he’s playing without both. Last year, it was a 323-minute sample, and Zubac had a 22.9% USG and averaged 1.1 FP/min. He’s going to play with one of the best passers ever here in Chris Paul, so we should see Big Zu’s production not suffer much here.

Mark Williams, PHX

(DK CPT - $15,600, UTIL - $15,000 / FD CPT - $19,500, UTIL - $13,000)

After opening the season on a minutes limit, the limit is gone. Mostly. Mark Williams has played 25-plus minutes in five consecutive games and has shown a 31-minute sample at that. He has three double-doubles over that span, and although he hasn’t been totally consistent, those three double-doubles have resulted in 40+ DKP. That’s what makes him an interesting, contrarian GPP captain.

John Collins, LAC

(DK CPT - $11,400, UTIL - $7,600 / FD CPT - $8,700, UTIL - $5,800)

It’s a very small sample, but John Collins’ 24 minutes without Kawhi Leonard and James Harden leads the Clippers. He has 1.17 DKP/min and 1.24 FDP/min as well, along with a 24.4% USG. As a baseline, Collins has a 21% USG and averages .9 FP/min this year. There’s a lot to like with the two Clipper stars out, and it’s even possible to think Collins could enter the starting lineup here. They went with Nicolas Batum last time, but they had Harden. They need Collins’ offense.

 

 

 

DFS Utility Picks

Grayson Allen, PHX

(DK CPT - $13,200, UTIL - $5,800 / FD CPT - $13,200, UTIL - $8,800)

It remains to be seen what the Suns do with Jalen Green back, but there’s a chance Grayson Allen remains a starter, and we see Royce O'Neale back to the bench. Ultimately, Allen ends up back on the bench as well when Dillon Brooks is back, but Brooks is still out. Without Brooks this year, Allen’s a .9 FP/min player and has a solid 21.5% USG.

Jalen Green, PHX

(DK CPT - $14,100, UTIL - $9,400 / FD CPT - $14,400, UTIL - $9,600)

It’s hard to fully invest in Jalen Green here because we don’t know what his minutes are going to look like, as this is his first game of the year coming off a hamstring injury. There’s no doubt he’ll be limited, but how limited will he be? If he can play mid-to-high 20s minutes, Green can get it going offensively and will have the ultimate green light as soon as he steps on the floor in Phoenix. 

Ryan Dunn, PHX

(DK CPT - $9,600, UTIL - $6,400 / FD CPT - $8,400, UTIL - $5,600)

Ryan Dunn, more than anyone else in Phoenix, is live to play 30 minutes, but within his range of outcomes, he could play 17. Especially with a deeper rotation now that Jalen Green is back. Now, the minutes have been awesome lately as he’s played 27+ minutes in four straight while topping 24.5 DKP and 26.5 FDP or more in each.

Chris Paul, LAC

(DK CPT - $8,400, UTIL - $5,600 / FD CPT - $3,300, UTIL - $2,200)

We don’t have full confirmation that Chris Paul starts in James Harden’s stead tonight, but it’s possible. Paul’s minutes have been solely as the backup point guard, which was predictable when he signed on as a Clipper. Yes, he’s old in NBA years, but let’s not overlook the fact that he just played 82 games last season. He’s still in good shape and could play more when his number is called upon, which will happen without James Harden.

 

 

 

DFS Dart Throws

  • Derrick Jones, LAC (DK CPT - $5,400, UTIL - $3,600 / FD CPT - $5,700, UTIL - $3,800)
  • Kris Dunn, LAC (DK CPT - $7,500, UTIL - $5,000 / FD CPT - $4,200, UTIL - $2,800)
  • Nicolas Batum, LAC (DK CPT - $3,300, UTIL - $2,200 / FD CPT - $2,100, UTIL - $1,400)
  • Bogdan Bogdanovic, LAC (DK CPT - $1,500, UTIL - $1,000 / FD CPT - $5,100, UTIL - $3,400)
  • Jordan Goodwin, PHX (DK CPT - $1,500, UTIL - $1,000 / FD CPT - $2,700, UTIL - $1,800)