After a limited two-game slate on Wednesday, the NBA is back in full swing on Thursday with 11 games on the schedule. One of them is a matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors, which will be the featured Showdown contest on DraftKings. Let’s dive into the options and discuss some players to consider for your entries.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $120K Fadeaway [$30K to 1st] (GSW vs LAC)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Stephen Curry ($17,700 CP): These two teams have faced each other twice this season, and Curry has produced mixed results. In their first matchup, he scored only 13 points on 5-for-17 shooting from the field. However, he rebounded in their rematch, posting 38 points, 11 assists and three steals. The Clippers are a tough defensive team when they are healthy, which they should be heading into this matchup. Still, with Curry posting a 32.5 percent usage rate, he’s tough to pass up for this spot.
Paul George ($15,300 CP): If you want a more well-balanced entry, then rolling with George as your Captain’s Pick can help your budget, while also providing tremendous upside. He’s having an incredibly efficient season, averaging 23.7 points per game thanks to him shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc. Also, he’s averaged 6.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals. There’s not much to complain about here.
UTIL Plays
Draymond Green ($8,800): Green is still not scoring much, averaging 5.7 points per game and shooting an ugly 39.1 percent from the field. However, he’s been excellent in other areas, averaging 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals. The Clippers do have a lot of size that they can throw at him up front, and facing Serge Ibaka ($5,200) can be difficult, but Green’s ability to contribute in multiple areas still makes him an appealing option.
Jordan Poole ($3,000): The Warriors rested several key players in their last game before the All-Star break, which left Poole to log 26 minutes against the Suns. He stepped up in a big way, scoring 26 points and shooting 5-for-10 from behind the arc. With the Warriors looking for more production from their bench, Poole certainly made a case to receive more playing time moving forward. Adding him to your lineup comes with plenty of risk, but at such a cheap salary, he is at least worth considering in tournament play.
Kevon Looney ($1,400): Looney has started five of six games since returning from injury, although he only averaged 16 minutes per game during that stretch. He scored at least 14.8 DKFP in four of those contests, which should put him on your radar at this cheap salary. Also, James Wiseman ($6,200) is listed as questionable after missing a COVID-19 test during the break. If he is ruled out, then Looney could see a few extra minutes. Even if he does play, though, Looney could still be a viable option if you want to load up with a few of the top options.
Fades
Andrew Wiggins ($7,600): Wiggins didn’t exactly head into the break firing on all cylinders, averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists across his last eight games. Even on a team with so few viable scoring options outside of Curry, Wiggins has just a 22.9 percent usage rate. That’s down from the 25.4 percent usage rate that he had with the Warriors last season. Since his salary doesn’t come at much of a discount, it might be best to look elsewhere.
The Outcome
The Warriors have a stellar 12-6 record at home, but they are just 7-12 on the road. Add in the Clippers being at full strength and this is going to be an uphill battle for Curry and company. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this contest got out of hand early, especially if the Clippers can slow down Curry.
Final Score: Clippers 116, Warriors 107
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $120K Fadeaway [$30K to 1st] (GSW vs LAC)
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