The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will meet Wednesday night in Game 5 with both teams looking to grab the edge in the series. The Mavericks and Clippers just played one of the all-time playoff thrillers in Game 4, which means the stage is set for an exciting finish in what is now a best-of-3 matchup.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS Showdown managers could implement for this game.
Captain’s Picks
Luka Doncic ($19,800) – Even though Kyrie Irving might be the player fans remember after Game 4, Doncic continues to be the ultimate thorn in the Clippers’ side. The Mavericks star point guard has topped 50 fantasy points in every game, going over 60 fantasy points in two contests and narrowly missing the mark in a third. Irving might get hot but Doncic continues to be the primary fantasy star in this rotation. Despite his knee injury, he’s worth putting in your lineup as a captain.
James Harden ($15,600) – This is a huge series for Harden, who is angling for a new contract this summer. The Beard has been on fire so far, averaging 47 fantasy points per game. He logged 56 fantasy points in Game 4 and was brilliant in the closing moments to secure a win for the Clippers. He’s going to see significant usage once again with Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely, and it’s hard to go against his current form. Paul George is an intriguing option as well here but I like Harden as the captain tonight.
FLEX Plays
PJ Washington ($7,200) – At some point, the Mavericks are going to need offense outside of Irving and Doncic. The most likely candidate to step up with Tim Hardaway Jr. out is Washington, who averaged 13.6 points per game with the Hornets before being traded to Dallas. The forward has done a little bit of everything so far in this series but has yet to deliver a big scoring performance. Perhaps Game 5 could be that moment. There’s not a lot of upside because his usage is low but Washington has a high floor in fantasy basketball.
Ivica Zubac ($7,800) – Zubac started off the series on a high note with 45.3 fantasy points in 33 minutes. The big man has dropped off a bit with his production but remains a consistent producer. Zubac only logged 23 fantasy points in 30 minutes of action in Game 4 but that was largely because George and Harden took over. I think the Clippers give Zubac some more touches tonight, which will help him deliver value as a flex option.
Fades
Norman Powell ($5,400) – When Leonard was ruled out indefinitely, Powell was seen as someone who would obviously step up. Outside of Game 3 where he went for 30.5 fantasy points, Powell has been largely inefficient in this series. His value comes from his three-point shooting, which has been down in this matchup so far. Even though the price point is favorable, it’s hard to trust Powell as a fantasy producer. I wouldn’t roster him in lineups tonight.
Daniel Gafford ($5,200) – The Mavericks didn’t give Gafford much run in the first two games, with the big man logging 23 minutes combined. He saw 26 minutes in Game 3 alone, tallying 23 fantasy points. Gafford’s role is too inconsistent to be worth backing, especially at a price where you want more value. Even if Gafford were to get playing time, he’s unlikely to see major usage. It’s best he is left out of DFS lineups.
The Outcome
The Clippers have won both games where Leonard has been sidelined, suggesting there was some confusion as to their roles with the star forward attempting to power through his knee soreness. That factor is now gone, but the Mavericks have a better understanding of how to approach this matchup after being run out of the gym for the better part of Games 1 and 4. I think Dallas slows things down to get a better chance but George and Harden are locked in right now. Both are seeking new long-term deals and that’s going to be a factor in their play but the chance to go up 3-2 in this series is motivation enough.
Final score: Clippers 98, Mavericks 91
