The game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks might be a prequel of a play-in tournament matchup. As it stands now, the Clippers and Mavericks are behind each other at the eighth and ninth seeds. Unfortunately, Dallas finds themselves without the heroics of Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis is listed as day-to-day. The Clippers are relatively healthy, though, and they have a lot of weapons they can put on the court at one time.
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers Start Em’
Ivica Zubac (DraftKings Price 8.1K, FanDuel Price 8.2K)
It’s not like Zubac is putting up Wilt Chamberlain numbers, but he’s proving to be one of the most consistent centers in the league. He’s gotten at least a double-double for the last five games, and he even broke 20 points against Brooklyn. His prospects do get a bit better if Anthony Davis doesn’t play since he can’t switch on to him, but Daniel Gifford will be taking up most of the defensive duties against Zubac; that’s not a horrible matchup at all.
Klay Thompson (DraftKings Price 5.1K, FanDuel Price 5.3K)
Although it’s still a bit difficult getting used to him in a Mavericks uniform instead of a Warriors one, Klay Thompson is mostly the same player he was in Golden State. Despite some duds here and there, Thompson still scores in double digits and has hit above 50% from three-point range quite often. Without Irving or Davis on the court, Thompson will also have to take more shots and assume more of a leadership role. If there is a Maverick that’s going to go off in this matchup, it’s Thompson.
Norman Powell (DraftKings Price 6.6K, FanDuel Price 6.4K)
Norman Powell has proven himself to be a very dynamic shooter. The only issue with his performance is that sometimes he has to take a backseat to Harden or Leonard. He has hit 41 before, though, so Powell makes a good DFS investment because he has a high floor and a high ceiling; he won’t drop a goose egg, but he might pop off for lots of points.
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers Sit Em’
Kawhi Leonard (DraftKings Price N/A, FanDuel Price N/A)
So, it’s not like Kawhi won’t have a good game; it just might not be as big if Anthony Davis plays. Based on their position, Davis would be slated to guard Kawhi if he is healthy. That would change the Clippers’ game plan significantly since Kawhi can simply kick the ball out to Powell or Harden. If Davis doesn’t take the court, then Kawhi can pop off. Otherwise, it might make more sense to pay less money from a DFS standpoint on a forward with a better matchup. There is also a chance that the Clippers will rest Leonard since he played in the previous matchup with the Mavericks.
Dereck Lively II (DraftKings Price 5.9K, FanDuel Price 4.7K)
As of now, Lively II is a game-time decision, so there is still a chance his ankle will keep him off the court. If he does play, it’s a difficult start because that ankle will be tested when he tries to challenge Zubac for rebounds. In his last two games, Lively II played 4 minutes and 16 minutes, respectively. If he is going to be called on to play a full game, he might not be used to the workload after his injury. Therefore, it’s more likely that he tires out, but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on later on.
Kris Dunn (Draft Kings Price 3.8, FanDuel Price 4.5K)
Dunn shows flashes of being a strong shooter here and there. He might be on the wrong team to display his talents, though; he has to share the ball with Harden, Powell, and Kawhi, all of whom can shoot. Dunn will also have to guard against Klay Thompson (unless he switches over to guard Harden), which is quite a tall task. Dunn will probably take more of a supportive role in this game, which isn’t good for DFS, but he will likely knock down all the open shots he gets.
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers Lock
James Harden (DraftKings Price 9.8K, FanDuel Price 9.5K)
The Mavericks may have to resort to switching Klay Thompson onto James Harden because, otherwise, Harden can easily pop off. There is no Kyrie Irving to contend with, so Harden can be more aggressive with the ball, whether that means driving to the paint or shooting from range. If Anthony Davis plays, that actually helps Harden out since it’s less likely he will dump the ball to Kawhi. Harden is still a threat to drop 30 on any given night.
Dallas Mavericks at LA Clippers Fade
Patty Mills (DraftKings Price 3K, FanDuel Price 3.6K)
Oh, it would be lovely if Patty Mills could run the point and shoot threes like he did back in the day. Sadly, Mills is only in the game for around seven minutes nowadays. In terms of DFS, it would make sense to pick up Mills unless most of the guards on the Clippers got hurt. It’s always good to keep in mind which veterans are available in the league who can take the court if need be.
