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NBA Head-to-Head Fantasy Game, Week 1: Breaking down each matchup

Welcome to Head-To-Head!

Head-To-Head is a fantasy game centered around how many points players score. Every Monday, starting Dec. 5 through the remainder of the 2022-23 NBA season, five new matchups will be presented. All you have to do is pick which player you think will score more points in each matchup.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 users with the most points every week. There will also be prizes for the 10 users with the most points at the end of the season. The season-long prizes include a trip for two to a 2023 NBA Finals game, courtside tickets to a game in the 2023-24 season, a trip to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League and more!

This week’s matchups start 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 the week out on Friday.

Here’s what you need to know about each matchup.

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Klay Thompson Warriors

Klay Thompson vs. Jordan Clarkson

Matchups: Warriors at Jazz

Date/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 9 pm ET

Channel: NBA TV Canada

Thompson has been open about his struggles to start the season, but he’s been more like himself lately. Over his last eight games, the sharpshooter has averaged 22.4 points while shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range.

Clarkson has posted almost identical numbers recently, with an average of 22.5 points over his last 10 games. He’s only a week removed from scoring a season-high 33 points in a win over the Clippers.

It should make for a fun matchup between the two shooting guards.

Booker-Tatum-FTR

Jayson Tatum vs. Devin Booker

Matchups: Celtics at Suns

Date/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 pm ET

Channel: TSN 1

This is a matchup between two leading 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 by averaging 28.4 points per game.

Booker has edged out Tatum in big scoring games this season, already going for over 40 points four times, including one 50-point game. Tatum has reached the 40-point threshold three times and came up just one point shy of a 50-ball last week.

This is a true coin toss between two of the best scorers in the game today.

Nikola Jokic vs. Anfernee Simons

Matchups: Nuggets at Trail Blazers

Date/Time: Thursday, Dec. 8 at 10 pm ET

Channel: SN One

This may seem like an easy choice on the surface, but don’t sleep on Simons. Jokic’s scoring average is down from each of his MVP seasons, only averaging 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 caught fire as of late — going for a career-high 45 points last week — it’s tough to bet against the reigning two-time MVP.

OG Anunoby vs. Paolo Banchero

Matchups: Raptors at Magic

Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 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 step offensively 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 maintained his production, going for a season-high-tying 32 points last week. Meanwhile, the Rookie of the Year candidate just returned from injury and has slowed down a bit upon his return, only averaging 18.9 points over his last seven games.

Banchero is the more natural scorer, but if you believe Anunoby can contain the No. 1 overall pick, roll with the Raptor.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Luka Doncic

Matchups: Bucks at Mavericks

Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 pm ET

Channel: TSN 1/4/5

Two more MVP candidates will face off when Antetokounmpo and Doncic clash.

Doncic’s 33.4 points per game leads the entire NBA, but Antetokounmpo is right behind him at 31.9, good for second-best in the league. The Mavericks don’t have the size to contain Antetokounmpo, which has me leaning towards the two-time MVP. But you never know when “Luka Magic” will come into play, as the league’s leading scorer can go for over 40 points without breaking a sweat.

This is another coin-flip of a decision.