Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
Over/Under: 281.5
Spread: UTA -7
The Nuggets are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Injuries
Nuggets
Vlatko Cancar - QUEST
Jazz
Rudy Gay - OUT
MVP/CPT
Nikola Jokic, DEN - So when you think about Rudy Gobert, you think about defense. You think about the accolades he’s racked up because of his defense. When you think about Nikola Jokic vs. Rudy Gobert you can come up with one word; dominance. No, not by Gobert, but by Jokic. In three games against Utah and Gobert last year, Jokic averaged 35.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per night. The ONLY team he averaged more points against last year was the Chicago Bulls. Jokic has started this 2021-’22 campaign off with a bang posting 50+ DKP in all three games and has a 20+ point double-double in each game. I’m 100% OK going back to the well here with Jokic, even on a back-to-back.
Rudy Gobert, UTA - Gobert decided violence this year. He’s 45.25 and 48 DKP in his first two games, notching 20 and 21 rebounds. The most impressive thing, because we know he’ll be amongst the league leaders in rebounds is that he’s scoring as he’s averaged 16.5 PPG and he has just ONE block. The blocks will come and if the scoring remains a constant, we’re talking about a guy with endless upside.
Bojan Bogdanovic, UTA - This is one of those games if you want to spend up and get multiple studs, you may need to spend down a little at your captain spot. Plugging Bogdanovic into your CPT chair allows that to happen and it also provides us with some upside. Bogdanovic can score the basketball. That’s hit best attribute as a player. He scored 22 in the first game of the year but only 13 in the second, so as you can see he’s fairly inconsistent. He averaged 17 PPG last year and has had three consecutive seasons in which he’s averaged at least 17 PPG so yeah, he can score. He also happens to be coming off a season in which he averaged a career best 4.5 rebounds a night, so he can contribute there as well. He could potentially see Michael Porter Jr. defense here and if there was one way to attack Denver defensively, he’s the weakness.
Mid Tier
Michael Porter Jr., DEN - It’s the never say die attitude for me and by that I mean it’s my love for Porter’s game that won’t let me ignore rostering him. Porter Jr. has not looked great this year, there’s no denying that, and he could have a tough match-up against Royce O’Neale to boot. That said, a lot of people likely fade him for that and considering his offensive talent, he has a chance to blow up at any point. It’s disappointing to see Porter Jr.’s usage rate below 20%, but it won’t stay there. I’m interested in him GPP’s, not cash.
Mike Conley, UTA - It’s been a pedestrian start for Conley as he scored just 10 points and 20.5 FP in the first game but bounced back the second time around, scoring 17 and putting up 30 DKP. This is a good match-up for Conley up against Monte Morris and Facundo Campazzo and his team has the third highest implied total on the board. Conley’s not anyone I’d use in my captain spot, but definitely in my flex spot.
Aaron Gordon, DEN - With Royce O’Neale likely guarding Michael Porter Jr., that leaves Bojan Bogdanovic on Aaron Gordon and Gordon should be able to take full advantage of that match-up. Gordon has twice topped 23 DKP and has twice come within two rebounds of a double-double. Tonight could be his first double-double of the year.
Dart Throws
Hassan Whiteside, UTA - Whiteside is averaging 17 minutes a night off the bench for the Jazz this season but is crushing it from a fantasy perspective, averaging 23.4 DK fantasy points in those two games. If Gobert finds himself in any sort of foul trouble tonight we could see increased minutes here from a player with a very high ceiling.
Monte Morris, DEN - The production hasn’t quite been there for Morris to start the year but the minutes have which is where the appeal here is tonight. Over the first three games of the season Morris is averaging 27 minutes a night. If he can get the shot to drop he will be a more than serviceable play.