NBA Friday: Sacramento (-1.5) at New Orleans, Total 214.

Here we might have an ultimate test for the “injury myth” as the oddsmakers and wagering public have been jumping ship from the Pelicans like they’re the Titanic.  All because of the hamstring injury suffered by Zion Williamson late in Tuesday’s play-in round with the Lake Show when Zion scored 40 and hauled in 11 boards in a highlight-reel performance.

Had Zion gotten a bit more help, maybe ‘Nawlins would have prevailed, but that’s still a pretty flimsy excuse to dismiss the Pels, also perhaps because the Kings routed Golden State in their play-in game on Tuesday.

Consider, however, the way New Orleans absolutely manhandled Sacto this season, winning all five meetings, four of those by double-digit margins (some hefty double-digit margins, too), highlighted by an overwhelming advantage off of the glass to the tune of a 190-131 (!) rebound edge across the five clashes.

Moreover, Zion didn’t play in all of the games, missing the 133-100 romp at Golden 1 Center on January 7, a night in which the Pels at one time expanded their lead to 50 points. Though Zion is absent, Brandon Ingram has also just returned to active duty for Willie Green, and CJ McCollum was also very effective vs. the Kings this season, scoring at a brisk 26 ppg clip (in just three meetings).

Golden State’s lack of athleticism played into Sacto’s hands on Tuesday, but fundamental matchups are far different vs. the Pels, and the Kings are only 7-8 SU in its last 15 road games.

Sacto also isn’t at full strength these days, as a couple of Mike Brown’s depth and rotation pieces, Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, are both out.  Mostly, however, the overreaction to Zion’s absence seems a bit misplaced…NO has proven it can not only beat, but wallop, this foe without him. PLAY NEW ORLEANS