Best lineup strategy for Suns vs. Hawks NBA Showdown

The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks will face off for the second time this year on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m ET. The Suns are one of the NBA’s hottest teams and are amid a five-game winning streak, and the Hawks have won their last two contests. Can Phoenix extend its winning streak and complete a season sweep or will Atlanta stop the Suns’ momentum? We’ll find out soon. Here’s how you can approach Showdown contests on DraftKings centered around the matchup.

Captain’s Picks

Chris Paul ($13,500) recorded his third double-double in four games against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday and will be guarded by one of the NBA’s worst defenders in Trae Young ($16,500). Young and Booker ($14,400) will likely be more popular options because of their raw scoring upside, but Paul’s consistent playmaking and hustle on defense could make him the key to constructing the optimal lineup.

Mikal Bridges ($10,200) is an under-the-radar option that will allow you to roster most of the studs in without taking a huge risk. The third-year wing is averaging 35.1 DKFP over his last five games. He rattled off 48.25 DKFP in his last game and will draw the attention of Tony Snell on defense. His aptitude to get blocks and steals paired with his efficient three-point shooting put him a notch above other mid-tier plays.

FLEX Play

It’s hard to justify passing on Bogdan Bogdanovic ($8,800), given how he’s played lately. The combo guard has scored at least 39 DKFP in seven of his last 10 games. He’s tallied 20 or more points seven times during that span and has acted as a secondary playmaker for Atlanta. He torched the Suns with 45.5 DKFP the last time he faced them and will be important on both sides of the ball for a Hawks team that lacks wing depth.

Fades

Going to overtime on Tuesday saved Deandre Ayton ($8,000) from posting another mediocre stat line. The Suns’ starting center entered his last gave, having fallen short of 27 DKFP in three straight contests. Clint Capela ($10,000) is one of the NBA’s most energetic rim protectors and rebounders, and he won’t make things easy on Ayton while he’s enduring a slump. Booker and Paul are must-haves, so you can probably live with leaving Ayton out of your lineup.

The Outcome

The Suns are on their way to finishing atop the Western Conference and are showing no signs of slowing down. They’ve won more road games (22) than any NBA team, so I expect them to extend their winning streak to seven games against the banged-up Hawks.

Final score: Suns win 115-110