Ace

Bailey

Bailey was the leading scorer for Utah and was one of six players to score in double figures for them. That may seem like it was a balanced attack, but nearly a third of the team’s points came in the fourth quarter, after the game was out of reach. Bailey was able to have a decent night in what was an ugly loss, and he’ll look to keep it going in the rematch to start off the week on Monday.

Bailey exited Friday’s win over the Kings with a bruised right knee and did not return. The good news is that the rookie isn’t on the initial injury report for Sunday. Bailey being back in the fold lowers Brice Sensabaugh’s ceiling, but he’s still worth a look in deep redraft leagues. Both players should be rostered in dynasty formats.

Bailey has been ruled out for the remainder of this game, which opens the door for minutes on the win. Brice Sensabaugh should fill the void and provide some value from beyond the arc.

Bailey’s metamorphosis into a reliable fantasy contributor is slowly starting to accelerate over the last two weeks as he’s eclipsed 20 points in three of his past seven contests while averaging 24 minutes during that span. The 19-year-old lottery pick is averaging 15 points, three rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals over that seven-game sample size. Simply put, he’s rapidly becoming a relevant fantasy option, especially in deeper formats.

Since moving into the Jazz starting lineup on November 10, Bailey has averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game. That’s been suitable for 10th-round value in nine-cat formats, and the rookie is worth holding onto in deep leagues as long as he remains in the starting lineup. Bailey is rostered in 25 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and that number will only increase as the season progresses. The Jazz begin a three-game Week 6 on Monday against the Warriors.

Two days after scoring 20 points for the first time in his career, Bailey surpassed that mark, setting a new career-high for a second straight game. The No. 5 overall pick last summer, Bailey’s career got off to a slow start, but he’s really starting to figure things out. Currently rostered in just 28 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Bailey’s starting spot feels secure, so he should be worth rostering for the rest of the season.

Bailey has hit double figures in three straight games, but Tuesday’s performance was his best by far. The rookie notched his first 20-point game and was efficient in doing so, shooting over 50 percent from the field and only committing one turnover. While some fantasy managers may lament the lack of defensive stats, Bailey entered Tuesday with totals of six steals and one blocked shot. For now, hope that the rookie can continue to put forth efficient offensive outings in his new role.

Four of Utah’s five starters from Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves are unchanged. The lone change is Bailey, who replaces Isaiah Collier in the lineup to make his first career start. While the rookie hasn’t provided much fantasy value thus far, the opportunity to start raises his fantasy ceiling. That said, Bailey will be more valuable during the “silly season” than he is right now.

The Jazz starting lineup will raise some eyebrows, as Mykhailiuk and Filipowski are among the first five. The former filled that role throughout the preseason, while the latter started Utah’s preseason finale after being limited during training camp. Filipowski is the superior option for fantasy managers, as he offers a more varied offensive repertoire than Mykhailiuk. Also, Svi’s insertion into the lineup may be due to Ace Bailey (illness) being under a minutes restriction. George will start at point guard, as Isaiah Collier (hamstring) is not ready to return to action.

The No. 5 pick will be available after dealing with a knee issue and subsequent illness. Expect him to see plenty of minutes in his regular season debut.