The LA Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in recent weeks, winning four of their past five games and posting a league-best plus-19.7 net rating across that span. Despite a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, LA will have to regroup quickly, as the reigning champion Boston Celtics will visit Intuit Dome for the first night of a back-to-back.
The Clippers’ chances took a big blow on Wednesday afternoon, as shooting guard Norman Powell was ruled out with a back injury. This season, Powell has the second-shortest odds to win Most Improved Player honors at DraftKings Sportsbook, having increased his scoring average to a career-high 23.7 points per game and shooting 44.1% from beyond the arc. LA will also be without forward Kawhi Leonard, who will miss his second straight game due to injury management; center Ivica Zubac, out with an eye injury; and guard Kris Dunn, ruled out with a knee injury. Additionally, guard James Harden and forward Nicolas Batum are both questionable for tonight’s contest.
With Powell, Leonard, Zubac, and Dunn sidelined, the Clippers’ corps are extremely thin, which should provide an opportunity for guard Kevin Porter Jr. ($5,000) to claim a bigger role in the offense.
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PG/SG Kevin Porter Jr., LA Clippers vs. Boston Celtics, $5,000
The fifth-year pro has been pretty solid in his return to the NBA after most recently playing for P.A.O.K. BC in the Greek Basket League. This season, he has averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while seeing his playing time increase throughout the course of the season. Although his shot has been inconsistent, he has put up plenty of solid performances, scoring at least 10 points in 18 out of his 37 appearances and recording at least one steal 22 times. He has usurped Terance Mann ($2,400) as Tyronn Lue’s most important reserve guard.
During Porter’s only start of the season, a loss to the Houston Rockets on December 8, he rewarded Lue’s faith, scoring a season-high 19 points and adding two rebounds, six assists, and two steals (35.0 FPTS), the only game this season in which he has played more than 30 minutes. With Powell and Dunn out, both Porter and Mann should get plenty of playing time.
Of course, the Celtics are a difficult matchup, as they allow the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards. Boston’s starting back-court duo — Jrue Holiday ($5,400) and Derrick White ($7,800) — has eight combined All-Defensive Team appearances, and the Celtics are truly a team with no weaknesses, posting the second-best offensive rating and fifth-best defensive rating in basketball.
