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Thursday has the makings of a fairly quiet night in the NBA considering there are only four games on the schedule. One of them is a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns, two teams who will both be playing the second game of a back-to-back set. This game is also the featured Showdown contest on DraftKings, so let’s discuss some players to consider for your entry.
Editor’s Note: Suns SG Devin Booker (hamstring) has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. the Warriors.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st] (GSW vs PHO)
Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Stephen Curry ($18,900 CP): Curry had a rare off night against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, scoring 16 points on 6-for-17 shooting from the field. He mostly struggled in the first half, though, scoring 14 of his 16 points after the break. Considering he’s averaging 27.7 points a game with a 31.9 percent usage rate, he’s about as safe as it gets in the scoring department. Add in averages of 5.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists and his floor is as high as anyone’s in this game.
Deandre Ayton ($15,300 CP): Ayton is also coming off of a bad performance in which he only scored five points against the Thunder on Wednesday. Oddly enough, he only attempted seven shots. He’s averaging 10.6 shot attempts per contest for the season. He did somewhat salvage his stat line with 14 rebounds, and he’s been a monster in that department this season by averaging 12.3 rebounds a night. That’s significant for this matchup given that the Warriors have allowed the most rebounds per game in the league.
UTIL Plays
Chris Paul ($10,600): The important story line to follow for this game is the status of Devin Booker ($11,000), who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Paul has been a monster in his absence, scoring 56.8 and 47.3 DKFP, respectively. If Booker is out again, then Paul becomes a viable option for the Captain’s Pick. If Booker does return, then Paul is still appealing, but maybe just not in that prominent position.
Jae Crowder ($7,600): Crowder has also been one of the main beneficiaries of Booker’s absence. Not only has he started both of the last two games, but he played 45 and 33 minutes in them, respectively. The result was him scoring at least 36.3 DKFP in both contests. If Booker is out again, Crowder is an excellent option. If not, he’s a bit risky considering he had scored 23.8 DKFP or fewer in each of his previous four games.
Kevon Looney ($1,600): The Warriors have made a change at center, moving James Wiseman ($6,600) to the bench in favor of Looney the last two games. Wiseman has still played more minutes than Looney, but Looney scored at least 15.8 DKFP in both of those contests. There are no indications that Wiseman is going to start in this game, so Looney could end up being a bargain at this cheap salary based on his new role.
Fades
Draymond Green ($7,800): Green just isn’t involved enough in the Warriors’ offense to warrant adding to your entry. He’s averaging 5.1 shot attempts per game, which would be his lowest mark since his rookie season. His rebounding numbers are also down significantly at 5.1 boards a night. Other than his hefty assist totals, his upside is limited.
The Outcome
This game being played in Phoenix is noteworthy because the Warriors are only 3-4 on the road compared to 7-4 at home. If Booker returns, that would provide a huge boost for the Suns. Even if he doesn’t play, the Suns have significant depth, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pull out a close victory.
Final Score: Suns 113, Warriors 108
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st] (GSW vs PHO)
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