USATSI

We’re teed up for a Week 9 scoring period that has a majority of teams on four-game weeks, although two of those – the Raptors and Pistons – have been knocked down to three games in the wake of a pair of COVID-related postponements. Their games Tuesday and Thursday have been wiped out, leaving Chicago with just one game on its schedule. The veteran point guard is slated to continue running with the first unit indefinitely while Ja Morant remains sidelined, and he’s coming into Week 9 having averaged a well-rounded 11.7 points, 7.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 31.8 minutes over his last six games. Jones is taking just under 10 shots per game as well and sets up to make solid contributions again during a second straight four-game week for Memphis, one that features a trio of particularly favorable matchups against the Trail Blazers and the Kings.