New Orleans Pelicans @ Utah Jazz

Spread: UTA -6

O/U: 217.5

Pace

Pelicans: 26th

Jazz: 24th

DvP (Defense vs. Position)

Pelicans: 18th vs. PG / 11th vs. SG / 16th vs. SF / 17th vs. PF / 5th vs. C

Jazz: 4th vs. PG / 23rd vs. SG / 14th vs. SF / 2nd vs. PF /  23rd vs. C

Key Injuries:

MVP/CPT

Zion Williamson , PF/C NO

Brandon Ingram hasn’t been great of late and Williamson has. Williamson scored 31 actual and 40 FP his last time out and has now put up 39+ DKP in five straight. Zion Williamson has a 28.6% USG rate and averages 1.12 FP/min this season. When you talk about safety, Williamson comes right to mind.

Donovan Mitchell , PG/SG UTA

We’re unsure if Joe Ingles will play in this one and if he doesn’t, Mitchell will do a lot more ball handling. He’s posted a 31.8% USG rate this year and averages 1.13 FP/min without Ingles this year. Mitchell has been extremely consistent lately posting 36.25 DKP or more in five straight and in 8-of-10. Mitchell is a volume shooter that can post a monster performance if we get volume and efficiency. 

Jordan Clarkson , PG/SG UTA

Like Mitchell, we want to use Clarkson if Joe Ingles is out. I’m far more bullish on Clarkson if Ingles sits and he is NOT a captain spot option if he doesn’t. But, with Ingles out this year, Clarkson has been dynamite. He’s second on the team with a 26% USG rate and has a 1.23 FP/min average to boot. He’s played 28+ minutes in 4-of-5, all games without Ingles and has put up 31+ DKP in that span as well.

Mid-Tier

Steven Adams , C NO

Although Rudy Gobert has a rich history of being someone people hold to a high regard for his defense, the Jazz rank 23rd in terms of DvP versus the center position. Couple that with the four games of 28+ DKP or more out of Adams over his last five and we have a spot that I’m not sure a lot of people look at. 

Mike Conley , PG UTA

Another player on Utah that plays extremely well without Joe Ingles . Again, Ingles could play and it’s not a massive hit to Conley, but hard not to love his 1.21 FP/min without him this year. Over the Jazz’s last five games, Conley has averaged 37 DKP/game and has been fantastic at home averaging a robust 39.6 DKP/game.

Bojan Bogdanovic , SF/PF UTA

Bogdanovic got off to a dreadful start this year but has begun to pick up the pace lately. He’s scored 17+ actual points and at least 22 DK points as well in each of his last three games. Over his last five games he’s averaging 24.8 DKP/game and we know there is 30 actual point upside when his shot is falling.

Value Tier

Josh Hart , SF NO

I don’t love the value on either of these teams, but Hart is a main staple in the Pelicans rotation and is a potential double-double threat when his shot is falling. Yes Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe are back and their rotation is back at full strength, but Hart can backup at SG and SF and has a ton of value for this Pelicans squad.

Georges Niang , SF/PF UTA

It’s not the most exciting play in the world and we might not even get 15 minutes out of Niang, but he’s shown off his abilities when he’s given the run. He’s put up 15+ DK points in three straight and 20+ in 2-of-3. He’s really only in play if Joe Ingles is out because he’ll hand all of the minutes he’s been playing lately to him.