The Pelicans Will Be Without Zion Williamson on Thursday Night

The Spurs visit New Orleans and the Wizards are in Utah on a two-game Thursday night in the NBA but the headline is that Zion Williamson is sitting this one out due to health and safety protocols. 

The 10-20 Spurs, who are 5-8 on the road, will face an 18-12 Pelicans team that sits at No. 3 in the West just 1.0 games back of first-place Denver and Memphis. After winning five of their first seven games the Spurs remembered that Victor Wembanyama was on the line and started losing games. They are 5-18 since the hot start and even had an 11-game losing streak thrown in for good measure. They’re kind of hot again, winning four of their last six games, two of which came against the tanking Rockets. This would be a devastating loss for the Pelicans and I’m guessing the Spurs are going to be thinking about Christmas and getting home to their families. Additionally, the Spurs are likely to be without Keldon Johnson (hamstring), which will help offset the absence of Williamson. 

The Pelicans are going to be missing bodies tonight, making the matchup much more interesting than it should be. In addition to Zion Williamson being in quarantine, Brandon Ingram (toe) remains out and Larry Nance is iffy with an Achilles injury, and will be a game-time call. That means the Pelicans are looking at a potential starting five of C.J. McCollum, Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones, Naji Marshall and Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is coming off a monster line of 37 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, a steal and seven 3-pointers in Monday’s loss to the Bucks. All five of these potential starters are going to be popular options in prop bets tonight, as well as in DFS and fantasy leagues in general. The Spurs are looking at a probable starting five of Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Doug McDermott, Keita Bates-Diop and Jakob Poeltl, who is probable despite a bum knee. 

The Pelicans are 6-4 over their last 10 but have lost four straight games, including three straight against the spread. However, they were playing some very good teams in the form of the Jazz (twice), Suns and Bucks. Things should finally get a little easier tonight and I still think the Pelicans will find a way to win, even without Zion. But covering the 8.5 points might be tricky without him. Top Oddscrowd performer Opportunista still likes the Pelicans minus the points, but 8.5 is too many to give for a team replacing Zion with Naji Marshall. So I’m taking the Spurs and the points.  

Pick: Spurs +8.5

If you’re wondering about the race for Wenbanyama and how that’s going, here’s how things are stacking up. The Pistons and Hornets each have eight wins, although the Pistons have played two more games. The Rockets have won nine games, the Spurs have won 10, and the Magic and Wizards are both sitting on 12 Ws. So, as you can see, this might also be a devastating win for the Spurs.

In the other NBA game tonight the 12-20 Wizards will visit the 18-16 Jazz. The Wizards are 1-9 in their last 10 games while the Jazz are 5-5 with a couple of recent losses to the Bucks and Cavaliers.

Kristaps Porzingis skipped this morning’s shootaround due to an illness and will be a true game-time decision, which is a big deal for the Wizards. He’s their second-leading scorer at 22.4 points per game to go along with 8.9 rebounds. Bradley Beal (23.4 ppg) should be good to go and the Wizards’ starting lineup should consist of Monte Morris, Beal, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma and Porzingis, assuming he can play. If Porzingis is out the Wizards could start Daniel Gafford in his place. 

The Jazz lineup should be Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, red-hot Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt and Walker Kessler, while Collin Sexton could finally return from his hamstring injury after participating in this morning’s shootaround. 

With Porzingis not feeling well and the potential return of Sexton I’m all in on the Jazz minus the points. And so is top Oddscrowd performer Opportunista.  

Pick: Jazz -6.5

Favorite Props

C.J. McCollum over 24.5 points - Has to score with Zion out

Devin Vassell over 21.5 points - Gets a boost without Keldon Johnson, scored 26 on Monday

Jonas Valanciunas over 17.5 points - Coming off a monster game, no Zion

Jonas Valanciunas over 10.5 rebounds - No Zion, coming off an 18-rebound game

Jordan Clarkson over 2.5 3-pointers - Has hit at least three triples in four straight games

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