The Nuggets and Clippers are set to face off in what should be a very entertaining Game 6. Although the Clippers found themselves in the lead at one point, the Nuggets won two straight and have a nice bit of momentum going into this game. That doesn’t mean that the Clippers should be ignored since they have a wide range of scorers that can do damage on any night. There is one superstar that DFS players might want to pump the brakes on, though.
Lock of the Game
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
AT
LA Clippers
(2-3)
Although Nikola Jokic is often considered the face of the team, Jamal Murray is arguably having a better series. He’s consistently scored over 20 with one exception, but much more impressive are the 43 points he dropped in Game 5.
Defensively, the Clippers are also more equipped to deal with Jokic than they are with Murray. Kawai and Zubac can defend the paint, but they can’t chase Murray to the perimeter.
Start ‘Em
Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers
AT
Denver Nuggets
(3-2)
Now that their backs are against the ropes, the Clippers need to put the ball in the hands of their best players. Right now, that’s Kawhi Leonard, because he has been the most consistent of the LA stars. He only scored 20 in Game 5, but he has so many options to pass to. It shouldn’t be surprising if Kawhi starts going up with the ball himself and looks more like Toronto Kawhi, as he surely wants to lead his team to victory here.
Kris Dunn
LA Clippers
AT
Denver Nuggets
(3-2)
Quietly, Dunn has been a very efficient player. He only scored 15 points in Game 5, but he shot 3-4 from three-point range. Even throughout the season, Dunn has been reliable from a distance. The only issue with him is that he usually subs out for Bogdonavich, who also needs minutes. As his shooting continues, though, Dunn should earn himself more playing time.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets
AT
LA Clippers
(2-3)
Gordon actually had a strong game in Game 5 with 23 points. The thing about Gordon is that his performance can vary a lot. He never has a poor game, but he will go from mediocre to great between nights. That explains how he can only score 14 in Game 4, to then score 23 in Game 5. With that history in mind, he will probably take more of a backseat in Game 6 and let Murray and Portis Jr. shoot.
James Harden
LA Clippers
AT
Denver Nuggets
(3-2)
It seems like sacrilege putting Harden here, but he hasn’t shown the grit and intensity he had when he was on the Thunder or even the Rockets. Harden only dropped 14 points against the Nuggets in Game 5. Most superstars would never score below 20 in an impactful game. Now, for Game 6, the Nuggets might target Kawhi more often and leave Harden without the ball on certain possessions.
Fade of the Game
Drew Eubanks
LA Clippers
AT
Denver Nuggets
(3-2)
Eubanks didn’t score a single point in Game 5. That really isn’t too much of an issue since Eubanks isn’t on the court too often. He has the height of a great defender and rim protector. The issue for him is that he comes in for Kawhi a lot, and Kawhi might be playing 48 minutes for the foreseeable future. Therefore, Eubanks might not even see the ball come his way.
