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There are only five games in the NBA on Tuesday, but injuries will still play a prevalent role in the slate. The same can be said for the featured DraftKings Showdown contest between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Let’s dive into the matchup and discuss some players to consider from both teams.
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Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Pick
Paul George ($14,700 CP): George is firing on all cylinders as the Clippers continue their march towards one of the top spots in the Western Conference. Over his last 10 games, he’s shooting 45.8 percent from behind the arc, which propelled him to average of 27.8 points per game during that stretch. He’s not just scoring, though, also posting averages of 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals during that span. Don’t be surprised if he torches a Blazers team that has the second-worst defensive rating in the league.
CJ McCollum ($14,100 CP): The big injury of note for this game is the one to Damian Lillard (hamstring), who will miss his third straight contest. His absence creates a massive void in the Blazers’ offense given his averages of 28.7 points and 20.1 shot attempts per game. Enter McCollum, who attempted at least 22 shots and scored at least 42.5 DKFP in both of the last two games with Lillard out. His expanded role should leave him with a high floor.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st] (LAC vs POR)
UTIL Plays
Marcus Morris Sr. ($5,800): Although Morris is only averaging 26 minutes per game for the season, he’s averaged 30 minutes across his last 16 games since entering the starting five. He’s taken well to the role, averaging 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 three-pointers during that stretch. Opposing defenses can’t focus on stopping him when he’s sharing the floor with George and Kawhi Leonard ($9,600), which has helped him shoot a career-high 47.2 percent from the field.
Ivica Zubac ($5,600): It’s been a while since we’ve seen Serge Ibaka, who has been out for over a month with a back injury. The Clippers signed DeMarcus Cousins ($4,200) to help provide some depth at the position, but he hasn’t played more than 15 minutes in a game since joining the team. Zubac will continue to be their leader at the position, especially with how well he’s played since Ibaka went down. Across the last 19 games as a starter, he’s averaged 10.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks.
Anfernee Simons ($3,600): Even with Lillard out, Simons has come off the bench the last two games. However, the Blazers don’t have a lot of depth at guard, so Simons still logged at least 30 minutes in both contests. The result was him scoring 29.5 and 16.0 DKFP, respectively. If you’re looking for a player with a cheap salary to help round out your entry, Simons is at least someone to consider.
Fades
Robert Covington ($6,400): Covington was never a high-volume scorer, but he’s really taken a step back since joining the Blazers. His usage rate has plummeted to 12.0 percent, which would be the lowest mark of his career, and by a wide margin. He’s still providing his customary production in rebounds and defensive stats, but his lack of shot attempts has contributed to him scoring 28.5 DKFP or fewer in seven of his last eight games.
The Outcome
This is a tough spot for the Blazers, facing one of the best teams in the league without Lillard. In the last two games that he missed, they pulled out a one-point win over the Spurs, but also suffered an eight-point loss at the hands of the injury-riddled Hornets. As long as the Clippers don’t pull any surprises and rule a player or two out for rest, they should win this game easily.
Final Score: Clippers 117, Trail Blazers 107
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Showdown $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st] (LAC vs POR)
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