Fade the guy who had the career night at home and now has pressure on the road. He will hang outside and I think he will go under on both his points and rebounds

Without Zion the Pels will make sure they start cautiously. Sac is better than you think on D and they usually score more in the second half

This is a big line for Keegan Murray who is coming off an arguably career best game versus the Warriors. Murray has a much more difficult matchup against a Pelicans defense ranked 7th in Defensive Efficiency. Additionally New Orleans is excellent at guarding the perimeter and the Pels surrender just 35% from deep to opponents, the second lowest mark in the league. This does not bode well for Murray who attempts more than half of his field goals from the three point line.

Well, the CBS Sports research staff talked me into this on our work Slack channel. Man, if I had their knowledge and some free time! Obviously knew the Pelicans were 5-0 vs. the Kings this season and I probably was gonna pass with no Zion Williamson. Then the researchers told me that in the five games, New Orleans was plus-45 in the series when Zion was NOT on the court. The one game he missed, the Pels won by 33 in Sac-Town. If the Kings were fully healthy, I'm still not playing this. Remind me not to buy the research department an Edible Arrangement again this year if this loses ... check that. I shall send them some Schrute Farm Beets.

The Pelicans will try to advance with their star power forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) sidelined. Domantas Sabonis is a handful in the middle, so expect Jonas Valanciunas to see a boost in playing time. During the regular season, he averaged 27 minutes across five meetings with the Kings. He posted at least 26 combined points, rebounds and assists in each of those meetings. Look for him to play enough Friday for him to reach this over.

Apparently the oddsmakers, upon directives from the wagering masses, are ready to downplay the Pelicans' chances in this play-in vs. the Kings at Smoothie King because of the absence of Zion Williamson (hamstring), who was admittedly the star (40 points) in the close Tuesday loss to the Lake Show. But consider the 5-0 Pels' SU mark vs. the Kings this season, which includes a 133-100 romp at Golden 1 Center on January 7 when Zion was absent...and Willie Green's side nonetheless piled up a 50-point lead (!) in the 3rd Q. The Pels have dominated Sacto this season because they have owned the glass (190-131 rebound edge across five games), and NO did recently get Brandon Ingram back to active duty. Play Pelicans