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As we learned when we played DraftEasy’s RapidFire contests for the Super Bowl, it can be a lot of fun to play in a contest centered around one game. It takes the viewing experience to an entirely new level when your fortunes can change on any given play. With that in mind, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the FantasyAlarm Featured Game of the Week. Each week, DraftEasy and FantasyAlarm will team up to offer a contest around one featured game. This week, we have a matchup of two potential Western Conference playoff teams in the Trail Blazers and Jazz.

This matchup is interesting on a variety of levels. The Jazz entered the All-Star break on an 11-game winning streak that vaulted Donovan Mitchell to the top of the Rookie of the Year discussion. They are now considered one of the favorites to make the playoffs even though they are 1.5 games behind the Pelicans for the eighth spot. The Jazz are also just two games behind the Blazers. 

These two teams stand in stark contrast to each other, at least for fantasy. The Jazz are deep and get consistent contributions from several players every night, while Portland is hit-or-miss outside of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Adding to the intrigue is the fact these teams played just before the All-Star Break. The Jazz won in Portland 115-96 despite 39 points from Damian Lillard and 22 from C.J. McCollum.  

One last note: Ricky Rubio has missed Utah’s last three games, including the aforementioned matchup with Portland, due to a hip injury. Rubio isn’t included in the match ups below, but he is a very good defender and his presence heavily influences the minutes and usage for most of the Jazz players listed below. Keep an eye on his status when you make your picks. With that in mind, let’s look ahead to Friday’s Featured Game.

FantasyAlarm Featured Game

Match-up 1: C.J. McCollum vs. Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell consistently outperforms McCollum in rebounds, assists and steals, and if that happens again tonight, McCollum will have to significantly outscore Mitchell to earn more fantasy points. Mitchell has scored fewer than 10 points twice in seven games this month, but I doubt that happens again. Utah’s guards are much better defensively than Portland’s, and I might prefer Mitchell in this matchup regardless of who they were playing.  

Match-up 2: Rudy Gobert vs. Damian Lillard

Lillard has scored at least 39 points in each of his last three games, and the only reason I’m not predicting a huge drop off in scoring is the All-Star Break. He dodged a bullet last time with Ricky Rubio out, and if Rubio plays, Lillard could have a much harder time getting open shots. Gobert has double-doubles in each of his last four games and six of his last seven. He also has at least two blocks in four of his last five games. Gobert has been noticeably better at home this season, and Lillard will probably need to score 30 points to top him. Lillard could certainly get there, but I’m betting against it.

Match-up 3: Jusuf Nurkic vs. Joe Ingles

Jusuf Nurkic played just 15 minutes in the last two meetings between these teams due to back and hip soreness, but he had 19 points and 11 rebounds in Portland’s first meeting with Utah this season. In general, he does well against teams with traditional centers, and Utah certainly fits the bill with Rudy Gobert. Joe Ingles is far more consistent than Nurkic, and he is averaging 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in February. Ingles is shooting 45.3 percent from beyond the arc this season, second to only Klay Thompson among players with at least 75 attempts, but the Trail Blazers are allowing the sixth fewest three point attempts in the NBA.

Match-up 4: Derrick Favors vs. Royce O’Neale

Derrick Favors is averaging 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over his last three games. He has two double-doubles over that span, including one against Portland. Royce O’Neale has eight points or fewer in four of his last five games, though he did have 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals against Portland. O’Neale has started Utah’s last three games with Ricky Rubio out, and while O’Neale will certainly see fewer minutes if Rubio returns, Favors could see fewer touches as well. In all, Favors is the safer bet to get minutes and shots, especially if Rubio plays. 

Match-up 5: Ed Davis vs. MoeHarkless

Harkless had five points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 30 minutes against the Jazz before the All-Star Break. In that same game, Ed Davis had eight points, 12 rebounds and one steal in 29 minutes. Both of these players will probably see fewer minutes in this game, so long as Jufu Nurkic stays healthy. Davis has double-digit rebounds in three of his last five games, and Moe Harkless isn’t consistent enough for me to trust him.

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