DFSGhost 
With only four teams taking the court tonight, this NBA slate will be interesting. Not only is one matchup lopsided, but key contributors on both sides of the ball have already been ruled out. It’s a Thirsty Thursday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
Be sure to use our proprietary NBA projections and cheat sheet to build your lineups as the news rolls in. Moreover, join the conversation in the Win Daily Discord to get the insight you need from both subscribers and staff.
San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans (-10.5)
San Antonio Spurs (+10.5)
This game will be more popular than the next one. With injuries to both teams, many players will see an increase in opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. Keldon Johnson is listed as doubtful to play, leaving many chances for other Spurs to produce on offense. On the season, Devin Vassell is second on the team with a 25% usage rate. However, with Johnson off the floor, this number jumps to 26.4%. Additionally, his fantasy points per minute output increases from 1.07 to 1.20 with his teammate off the court. With the Pelicans ranked 25th in the NBA against wings, this is a tremendous matchup for Vassell.
New Orleans Pelicans (-10.5)
There is little doubt that Jonas Valanciunas will be the most rostered player on this NBA slate. Zion Williamson has already been ruled out, in addition to Brandon Ingram being sidelined. Valanciunas is fresh off an offensive explosion, where he dropped 37/18/5 on 58.3% shooting. This was the first time he saw more than 30 minutes since November 9th and he certainly took advantage. The Spurs rank 24th against centers while being 29th in points allowed in the paint per game. Valanciunas has always been efficient, but there was always a minutes concern with New Orleans rolling out smaller lineups. Tonight, with Zion ruled out, Valanciunas will be in for another heavy dose of playing time.
Washington Wizards @ Utah Jazz (-6.5)
Washington Wizards (+6.5)
Exposure to the Wizards offense will be determined by the availability of Kristaps Porzingis. The Washington center missed last game with an illness, and is listed questionable to play tonight. Should he miss, Daniel Gafford instantly becomes one of the best point/dollar plays on the NBA slate with a matchup versus a Utah defense that ranks 29th in the NBA against centers. Moreover, Bradley Beal will be one of the elite targets toward the top of the pricing grid. In his last two games since returning to the lineup, Beal has averaged 28/4/4.5 on 45.9% shooting.
Utah Jazz (-6.5)
Should the availability of Porzingis take you off Beal, roll out Lauri Markkanen with confidence. Through a breakout campaign, Markkanen has now scored 20 or more points in seven of his last nine appearances. Moreover, he has averaged 25.6/7.6/1.8 on 56.9% shooting during that span. The potential return of Collin Sexton complicates the Jazz backcourt, so monitor this injury report and adjust accordingly. If playing Beal with the core listed below, Walker Kessler makes for a tremendous way to get exposure to this offense. Over his last eight appearances, Kessler has logged 20 or more minutes in seven games. Moreover, he has averaged 9.1/8.5/0.6 on 75% shooting during that span. He won’t take a ton of shots, but Washington ranks 18th in the NBA in points allowed in the paint and 16th in rebounding.
Core
- CJ McCollum
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Devin Vassell
- Pick one (1) of Bradley Beal or Lauri Markkanen
- DK bonus: Daniel Gafford (if Porzingis out) or Walker Kessler
You can find me on Twitter @BetsByGhost and in the Win Daily Discord
