I don’t want to complain, but what is the NBA doing? We had 11 games yesterday and 14 games tomorrow. That makes it hard to believe we have just two games here because it would have been easy to schedule a few of those for this Thursday card. In any case, we have just two matchups, and there’s still plenty to discuss!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet 
Schedule and Odds
- SAS at NOP (NOP -8.5) O/U: 227
- WAS at UTA (UTA -6.5) O/U: 229.5
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
Injury Report
Core Plays
CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
With Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson missing this game, McCollum will do everything for the Pels. His upside has been limited with those guys stealing so many touches, but CJ should be in line for 40 minutes, 20 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate in this spot. That sort of role makes him the best option on the slate in this matchup, with San Antonio sitting dead last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.
I don’t want to complain, but what is the NBA doing? We had 11 games yesterday and 14 games tomorrow. That makes it hard to believe we have just two games here because it would have been easy to schedule a few of those for this Thursday card. In any case, we have just two matchups, and there’s still plenty to discuss!
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Schedule and Odds
- SAS at NOP (NOP -8.5) O/U: 227
- WAS at UTA (UTA -6.5) O/U: 229.5
Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros
Injury Report
Core Plays
CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
With Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson missing this game, McCollum will do everything for the Pels. His upside has been limited with those guys stealing so many touches, but CJ should be in line for 40 minutes, 20 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate in this spot. That sort of role makes him the best option on the slate in this matchup, with San Antonio sitting dead last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Bradley Beal (SG/SF – WAS): $8,100 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
It’s weird to see Beal around $8,000. This guy is usually $1,000 more on each site, and he’s still got the upside to be a $10K player. Beal has scored at least 34 DraftKings points in 13 of his last 14 games, with the one outlier being a first-quarter injury. He’s also providing a 41-point average in the 13 games he finished and shouldn’t have any issues against a Utah team that ranks 24th in points allowed and 25th in defensive efficiency.
Cash Game Considerations
Lauri Markkanen (SF/PF – UTA): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
Markkanen is amid a breakout year in Utah, and he’s becoming tough to fade. The big man has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine games, posting a 40-point average in that span. He’s also flashed a 60-point upside on a few occasions this year, and the Jazz want him to be the focal point of their offense. Washington is a wonderful matchup, too, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.
Devin Vassell (SG – SAS): $7,400 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Vassell is developing into San Antonio’s best player. The sharpshooter has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in 14 straight games, averaging 34 fantasy points per game in that span. The role is what really has us encouraged, with DV playing 30-35 minutes while attempting 15-20 shots a game. New Orleans is a tough matchup for most people, but Vassell has at least 39 DK points in both of their meetings en route to a 43-point average.
Herbert Jones (SF/PF – NOP): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
Jones isn’t a great fantasy producer, but it will be impossible to stray away from him here. Herb regularly plays 35 minutes as the defensive stopper, but 40-45 minutes are in play with Ingram and Williamson both missing this game. That’s absurd from such an affordable player, and his elite defense should lead to some fantasy points against the most fantasy-friendly matchup in the sport.
GPP Targets
Jonas Valanciunas (PF/C – NOP): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Man, this guy has been all over the map. Larry Nance Jr.is the one that really determines if he’ll be good because JV had the best game of his season without him on Monday. Valanciunas dropped 73 DraftKings points in that masterpiece and has shown that ability in the past. He also had 44 DK points in a game where Nance sat earlier this year, which guarantees him 30 minutes as the starting center. If he gets that against the worst defense in the league, JV should be $2,000 more on both sites.
Mike Conley (PG – UTA): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Conley doesn’t have much upside, but he’s too good to be this cheap. The veteran is usually a $7K player on both sites, and a recent slump has lowered his salary way too much. The point guard is still flirting with a 30-point average for the year, and should be asked to do more with Collin Sexton sidelined. We’re obviously not worried about him facing a 20th-ranked Washington defense, either. All you need is 30 fantasy points for Conley to be a good value, and he’s one of the best bets for that in this price range.
Value Plays
Jarred Vanderbilt (PF – UTA): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Vanderbilt has quietly had a nice year in Utah. They’ve been starting him at power forward, averaging 26 DraftKings points per game across 25 minutes a night. He’s also shown us some ridiculous upside, scoring at least 49 fantasy points in two of his last five games. That’s far from shocking since Kelly Olynyk is sidelined, putting more on Vandy’s plate. This weak Wizards frontcourt likely won’t slow him down.
Monte Morris (PG/SG – WAS): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Morris is far from exciting, but it’s rare to find a starting point guard in this price range. The former Jayhawk has at least 25 DK points in 10 of his last 15 games. You can’t ask for any more from such an affordable player, especially one that’s starting at point guard and playing 30 minutes a night. The best part is this matchup, though, with Utah owning a 29th OPRK against opposing guards.
Trey Murphy (SF/PF – NOP): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
With New Orleans missing Zion and BI, Murphy should be in for another 30-minute night. He was doing that regularly when both guys were out earlier in the season, playing at least 29 minutes 13 times this year. He’s also generating a 30-point average in those outings, scoring at least 25 fantasy points in all but one of those. That floor and average should be simple to reach against the worst defense in the NBA.
Advantageous Pricing
- CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
- Bradley Beal (SG/SF – WAS): $8,100 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
- Herbert Jones (SF/PF – NOP): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
- Jarred Vanderbilt (PF – UTA): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
- Jose Alvarado (PG/SG – NOP): $3,400 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
- Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $9,000 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel
