The Clippers sail into Boston to face the Celtics, who are finishing a back-to-back this Monday after holding off the Timberwolves on Sunday. The Clippers have won five straight to improve to 11-7 on the season even though they haven’t had superstar Kawhi Leonard (knee) available yet. Norman Powell has been one of the Clippers’ top players this season, ranking third on the team behind James Harden ($9,100) and Ivica Zubac ($7,000) in fantasy points per game with 34.2 per contest. The Clippers won’t have Powell for a fourth straight game, though, since he was ruled out on Monday afternoon as he continues to deal with a strained left hamstring. One of the top players stepping up while Powell has been sidelined has been veteran forward Derrick Jones Jr. ($3,900), who will be a great value play under $4,000 on Monday night in Boston.
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PF Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers at Boston Celtics, $3,900
Jones has played all 18 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 20.2 fantasy points in 26.0 minutes per game. He has been in a bit of a shooting slump but has still produced 0.79 fantasy points per minute on the season. However, that number jumps to 0.90 fantasy points per minute with Powell off the floor, and his usage rate increases to 17.3% in that situation.
In the three games Norman Powell missed, Jones produced 23.5, 25.5 and 31.25 fantasy points in wins over the Magic, Kings and Sixers. On Friday, he had 17 points against Sacramento with four rebounds and a 21.3% usage rate. He had a very similar stat line with 18 points, three rebounds, three steals and a 21.0% usage rate on Sunday in Philly.
With the Celtics’ scoring wings, Jones will need to play great defense on Monday, meaning he should be on the floor enough to accumulate good counting stats. His suddenly-hot shooting (16-for-28 in the last three games) is enough to make him a steal at under $4,000 since he should continue to help fill in for as long as Powell remains sidelined.
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