Welcome to Head-to-Head!
Head-to-Head is a fantasy game focused on the number of points players get. Every Monday from December 5 through the remainder of the 2022-23 NBA season, five new matchups will be featured. All you have to do is choose which player you think he will score the most points in each matchup.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 users with the most points each week. There will also be prizes for the 10 users with the most points at the end of the season. Season-long prizes include a trip for two to a 2023 NBA Finals game, courtside tickets to one game in the 2023-24 season, a trip to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League and plus!
This week’s matchups kick off with Klay Thompson vs. Jordan Clarkson and Jayson Tatum vs. Devin Booker on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic and Anfernee Simons will go head-to-head on Thursday, with OG Anunoby and Paolo Banchero, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic closing out the week on Friday.
Here’s what you need to know about each matchup.
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Klay Thompson vs. Jordan Clarkson
Match: Warriors in Jazz
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 7 at 9 pm ET
Channel: NBA Canada TV
Thompson has been open about his struggles to start the season, but lately he’s been more like himself. In his last eight games, the sharpshooter has averaged 22.4 points and has shot 47.1 percent from 3-point range.
Clarkson has posted nearly identical numbers recently, averaging 22.5 points in his last 10 games. She is just a week away from scoring a season-high 33 points in a win over the Clippers.
It should be a fun matchup between the two guards.
Jayson Tatum vs. Devin Booker
Match: Celtics at Suns
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 7 at 10 pm ET
Channel: TSN 1
This is a matchup between two top MVP candidates to start the season.
Tatum has been on another level, averaging 30.8 points per game for the first-place Celtics. Booker has kept the Suns afloat without Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson averaging 28.4 points per game.
Booker has surpassed Tatum in big scoring games this season, and he’s already had 40-plus points four times, including a 50-point game. Tatum has reached the 40-point threshold three times and fell within 50 points last week.
This is a true coin toss between two of the best scorers in the game today.
Nikola Jokic vs. Anfernee Simons
Match: Nuggets at Trail Blazers
Date and Time: Thursday, December 8 at 10 p.m. ET
Channel: SN One
This may seem like an easy pick on the surface, but don’t sleep on Simons. Jokic’s scoring average is below each of his MVP seasons, averaging just 23.2 points per game. Simons is actually averaging more points per game than Jokic, posting a career-best 24.7.
Even though Simons has been on fire of late, scoring a career-high 45 points last week, it’s hard to bet against the reigning two-time MVP.
OG Anunoby vs. Paolo Banchero
Match: Raptors in Magic
Date and Time: Friday, December 9 at 7 pm ET
Channel: TSN 1/4/5, RDS
This matchup is more intriguing when Anunoby is on the defensive end, but the Raptors forward has taken a big offensive step this year. Anunoby is averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game compared to Banchero’s 21.7.
Even with Pascal Siakam back in the lineup, Anunoby has kept up his production, scoring a season-high 32 points last week. Meanwhile, the Rookie of the Year candidate has just returned from injury and has slowed down a bit in his comeback, averaging just 18.9 points in his last seven games.
Banchero is the more natural scorer, but if you think Anunoby can contain the No. 1 overall pick, stick with the Raptor.
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Luka Doncic
Match: Dollars in Mavericks
Date and Time: Friday, December 9 at 10 pm ET
Channel: TSN1/4/5
Two other MVP candidates will square off when Antetokounmpo and Doncic square off.
Doncic’s 33.4 points per game leads the entire NBA, but Antetokounmpo is right behind him at 31.9, making him second best in the league. The Mavericks don’t have the size to contain Antetokounmpo, which makes me lean toward the two-time MVP. But you never know when “Luka Magic” will come into play, as the top scorer in the league can reach 40+ points without breaking a sweat.
This is another coin in the air of a decision.