Herbert

Jones

Once again starting for the injured Zion Williamson (hamstring), Murphy was excellent on both ends of the floor in Game 1. The third-year wing made some timely baskets as the Pelicans mounted a rally that fell two points short while racking up four “stocks.” Offseason knee surgery derailed Murphy’s progress early in the season, but he has played solid basketball recently, outside of the Pelicans’ regular-season finale against the Lakers. With Oklahoma City devoting much of their defensive attention to CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, Murphy and Herb Jones won’t lack opportunities to score. Jones struggled in Game 1, shooting 2-of-10 from the field and finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 33 minutes.

Daniels moved into the starting lineup due to Zion Williamson (finger) not playing, and he was solid in the rebound and steals categories. As for the scoring, the other starters benefitted the most from Zion’s absence. Herb Jones (15/4/3/3 with one 3-pointer) and Trey Murphy (16/8/4/3 with one 3-pointer) reached double figures, but they aren’t available in most standard leagues. Streaming Daniels was a gamble, and it only paid off for managers targeting steals or rebounds.

“I’m a walking nightmare, an arsenal of doom.” Did Sting write those lyrics from the iconic Ghost in the Machine album with a defensive wizard like Jones in mind? It’s quite possible, as the Alabama product’s work on defense has been masterful this season, and he’s haunted many opposing players throughout the campaign. When fantasy managers describe a “full stat line,” Thursday’s performance is exactly what they’re talking about. Jones did a little bit of everything in Thursday’s victory, and he finished with at least three blocks and three steals for the second time this season. Only Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama have more such games in 2023-24. Over his last nine, Jones has been a defensive monster, averaging 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks. His huge defensive numbers have bolstered his otherwise unspectacular averages this season, and Jones is a top-70 fantasy hoops player on a per-game basis.

After missing Saturday’s win over Portland with a back/hip contusion, Jones returned to action on Tuesday and was not under any restrictions. He rejected three shots on the night, the third time in four appearances that Jones has hit that number. His fantasy value has decreased recently due to diminished returns on the offensive end of the floor. A double-digit scorer in two of the seven games he has played in March, Jones is ranked just outside the top 100 in 8- and 9-cat formats over the past two weeks. Trey Murphy, who filled in for Jones on Saturday, came off the bench and finished Tuesday’s win with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 30 minutes.

Jones has returned after a one-game absence, which means Trey Murphy will come off the bench. While his fantasy value takes a slight hit, Murphy will play enough to warrant being rostered in standard leagues. CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Jonas Valanciunas complete the starting five.

Injured during Friday’s win over the Clippers, Jones did not play the following night against Portland. Trey Murphy replaced him in the starting lineup and played 35 minutes, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers. If Jones is cleared to play on Tuesday, Murphy would return to the bench but remains a player who should be rostered in standard leagues.

Jones, Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels all got in a full practice Monday, though Daniels still has some work to do before getting back on the court for game action. Jones and Nance Jr. should be considered questionable Tuesday, while Daniels remains sidelined without a timeline for return.

Jones’ absence isn’t surprising given the doubtful tage he received earlier in the day. Trey Murphy III could replace Jones in the starting lineup, and he’s a great streamer for Saturday’s busy slate.

Jones took a hard fall in Friday’s win over the Clippers, and unsurprisingly, he’ll get a questionable tag on the second night of a back-to-back set. If he’s ruled out, Trey Murphy III could replace him in the starting five, making him a quality streaming option against a depleted Portland team.

Jones is averaging a career-high 11.1 points per game this season, but he simply didn’t shoot the ball much in this game. This was only the second time this season that a player didn’t attempt a field goal while playing at least 25 minutes. However, most of Jones’ impact is made on the defensive end, and he was still able to do that. He had exactly two steals and three blocks for the second straight game, and the defensive production shouldn’t go anywhere, even on nights where he isn’t scoring the ball.