This NBA DFS Showdown matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers might be missing two of its biggest starts, but there is still plenty of potential for fantasy fireworks in this one with both teams ranking in the top five in pace this year. Besides studs Anthony Davis and Anthony Edwards, there are plenty of options in this one. Be sure to check out our NBA DFS projections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Let's break down the top NBA DFS showdown picks for Timberwolves vs Lakers on DraftKings and FanDuel!

 

NBA Injury Report

Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries:

  • Karl Anthony-Towns – OUT
  • Jaylen Nowell – QUESTIONABLE

Los Angeles Lakers Injuries:

 

NBA DFS Showdown Picks

MVP/CAPTAIN

Anthony Davis, C, Los Angeles Lakers

We know when LeBron James is out that Anthony Davis is going to shoulder a big load on offense and defense. But just how large is it? When James does not play, Davis has a 32.3% usage rate and 1.57 fantasy points per minute. He also sees large spikes in his steal and rebound rates. Minnesota, anchored by Rudy Gobert, has been good against centers this year, but Davis is coming off back-to-back 60-fantasy point games and I’ll side with his increased usage anytime someone like James is out. 

Dennis Schroder, PG, Los Angeles Lakers

We should also remember that in addition to James, D’Angelo Russell is also out tonight (no #revengegame!). It was a similar situation on Wednesday for Los Angeles and Schroder scored 43.5 fantasy points in 37 minutes against the Thunder. For as good as the Timberwolves have been against centers, they have been the opposite against points guards. They are a bottom-five team against the position over their last 15 contests and Schroder should once again see more than 35 minutes in this one without another true point guard on the roster. 

Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Is the heavy workload finally getting to Edwards with the Timberwolves more than three-fourths of the way through their season? He is still playing 37-40 minutes every night, but he has scored under 40 fantasy points in four of his last six games. He has shot 42% or worse in five of those games, so there may be something to it, but with both of these teams in the top five in pace this year and Edwards dropping 40 on the Lakers once this season already, I’m still in on Edwards as a potential MVP pick tonight. 

UTILITY 

Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Even with Anthony Davis holding down the middle, the Lakers are still a bottom-five team against the centers this year, allowing more than 21 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks per game to the position. Gobert, predictably, absolutely smashed the Lakers in their one meeting this season, where he put up 56 fantasy points including 22 points, 21 rebounds, and two blocks. He has also been above 38 fantasy points in three of his last five games, so he is a viable lineup candidate for under $10,000 tonight. 

Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Anderson has been very consistent lately, scoring between 30 and 39 fantasy points in four of his last five games (with 26 in the other). He also gets a break by not having to guard LeBron James tonight which should free him up to do the variety of things that adds to his fantasy totals every night. The Lakers are the fourth-worst team against power forwards this season although that has improved to just 11th-worst after the addition of Jarred Vanderbilt at the trade deadline. 

Jarred Vanderbilt, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

Speaking of Vanderbilt, he has been a breath of fresh air for this defensively-challenged Lakers’ squad. In his last four games, he averages 24 minutes and 24.8 fantasy points per game in addition to being all over the court on defense and disrupting the other team. We may not get one from Russell, but this is a #revengegame for Vanderbilt after he spent the last three seasons there before being shipped to Utah in the Rudy Gobert trade. The Timberwolves are a bottom-five team against power forwards this season, so this could be a big spot for Vanderbilt. 

DART THROWS

Taurean Prince, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

For dart throws in a Showdown lineup, we are looking for minutes and opportunities at a low salary. And that’s exactly what we have lately from Taurean Prince. He has played at least 22 minutes in five of his last seven games and averages 14 fantasy points per game in that span. He has the potential for more if he get the minutes, similar to the 34 points in 29 minutes he put up against Utah recently. But if you want to fit the expensive guys on your roster tonight, Prince’s low $3,200 salary on DK is much-needed salary relief. 

Mo Bamba, C, Los Angeles Lakers

Mo Bamba was brought along slowly once he was traded from the Magic to the Lakers, first having to sit out a game due to suspension and then playing a total of seven minutes across two games on February 26 and 28. But with James going down this week, Bamba was forced into action on Wednesday and he did not disappoint. The versatile big man played 22 minutes against the Thunder and scored over 27 fantasy points. With a LeBron James-sized hole in the Lakers’ lineup now, Bamba will likely be someone that will help fill those minutes and he already averages 25 fantasy points a game in two contests against Minnesota this season. 

 

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