Last night concluded the group stage of the NBA Cup with eight teams officially advancing to the next round. The Cup will be put on hold until next week, but the regular season continues to power on.
There are just six games on the slate tonight. There will be four games taking place in the early slate as the Lakers face the Heat, the Sixers play the Magic, the Pacers square off against the Nets, and the Pistons match up with the Celtics. Following these four games, the Hawks will face the Bucks and the lone late-game matchup will be between the Clippers and Timberwolves.
While there will be more notable days of NBA basketball moving forward, there are still several options for what to watch and even more opportunities to get involved in the action. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for December 4th. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for Wednesday night’s action.
Damian Lillard More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Milwaukee Bucks have recovered from their slow start to the season and have looked like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA of late. They enter this matchup having won seven consecutive games and nine of their last 10 matchups. Milwaukee will now face the Atlanta Hawks, who present the team, and Damian Lillard specifically, a great chance to build off the recent success.
So far this season, Atlanta ranks dead last in the NBA in opponent three-point makes (16.2), attempts (42.1) and three-point percentage (38.5%) on a per-game basis. This presents a great opportunity for Lillard, who is shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc this season while attempting 9.3 long-range shots per game. He is averaging 3.4 made three-pointers per game but has recorded more than 3.5 makes in seven of the 17 games this season. He has also made five or more three-pointers in each of the past three games, including eight long-range shots against the Heat last week.
Lillard has still not fully lived up to expectations from when the Bucks made the massive trade, but he is inching closer to the player they hoped he could be. He is playing some of the best basketball in his Bucks career and has a great chance to continue this against a struggling perimeter defense. Count on Lillard to record more than 3.5 made three-pointers for the fourth consecutive game and the Bucks to continue playing like the team they were designed to be.
Tyrese Maxey More Than 26.5 Points
For the first time all season, the Philadelphia 76ers have a little momentum. The team is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time and has started to climb out of the hole they dug for themselves due to the slow start. Unfortunately, familiar injury issues have also popped back up. Paul George will miss the second night of a back-to-back after dropping 29 points last night while Joel Embiid remains in his ramp-up process.
This will put just about the entirety of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders of Tyrese Maxey. So far this season, Maxey is averaging 25.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. His efficiency has taken a notable step back this season, with this directly related to having more offensive responsibility than he is accustomed to. While Maxey has shot 46.4% from the field and 39.0% from beyond the three-point arc throughout his career, he is shooting just 41.1% from the field and 32.3% this season.
Even still, the All-Star guard has recorded more than 26.5 points in five of the 13 games he has played this season. Maxey is taking a career-high 21.7 field-goal attempts per game and will likely surpass this number of shots without George or Embiid. While the Magic have an impressive defense, there is enough shot volume on Maxey’s plate to reach this number. Expect the team to go down swinging on his shot attempts and for him to step into the forefront of the Sixers’ offensive output. It may not be an efficient route to getting there, but expect Maxey to record more than 26.5 points tonight as he desperately tries to will the Sixers to another win.
Tyrese Haliburton Less Than 30.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
There were high hopes for Tyrese Haliburton entering this season. The 24-year-old looked on the way to becoming one of the brightest young stars in the NBA but has hit a bit of a wall this season. Last season, Haliburton led the NBA with 10.9 assists per game while adding 20.1 points and 3.9 rebounds. So far this season, he has averaged 17.6 points, 8.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds, each being a step back from last season’s output.
The Pacers are set to face off with the Nets in tonight’s matchup. Brooklyn has been one of the better stories across the NBA this season with the youthful squad finding its identity early on. The young squad will also have the rest advantage while the Pacers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Raptors last night. While Haliburton is coming off a 30-point, six-assist and four-rebound performance last night, he was held to less than 30.5 combined points, rebounds and assists in the two games prior and 13 of the 22 games overall this season.
Brooklyn has several long, athletic wings it can throw at Haliburton. He has yet to put the pieces fully together for the season and, until this is proven to change, expect the struggles to continue. Count on tired legs to play a role against the younger team and for Haliburton to record less than 30.5 combined points, rebounds and assists tonight.
Norman Powell More Than 19.5 Points
UPDATE: Norman Powell has been ruled OUT for tonight’s matchup due to left hamstring injury management.
There are several reasons for optimism surrounding this Los Angeles Clippers team, but Norman Powell deserves to be at the top of the list. The 31-year-old is having a career year averaging 23.9 points, 2.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. He was forced to miss six games with a hamstring injury but picked up right where he left off with scoring outputs of 28 and 30 points in his two games since returning.
While he will still see some restricted minutes as he fully works his way back, this has not stopped Powell. He has not recorded more than 26 minutes since returning, but this has not slowed his offensive output. Overall, he has recorded more than 19.5 points in 13 of the 17 games he has played this season.
Minnesota has a tough defense that currently ranks fifth in opponent points per game. Regardless, Powell is an important part of Los Angeles’ offense and the hope is he will continue to see his minutes expand. He has been plenty productive in the limited minutes thus far, so look for him to record more than 19.5 points for the 14th time already this season.
Franz Wagner More Than 39.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists
The Orlando Magic have not missed a beat following the loss of star forward Paolo Banchero. The former No. 1 overall pick remains sidelined with a torn oblique, but the team has powered on without him. After an immediate four-game skid following Banchero’s injury, the Magic have won 12 of their last 14. While they are coming off a loss last night at the hands of the Knicks, Orlando has a great chance to get back in the win column against a short-handed 76ers team.
Franz Wagner deserves the bulk of the credit for stepping up in Banchero’s absence. Across the past 15 games, Wagner has averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. He has recorded more than 39.5 combined points, rebounds and assists in eight total games this season.
The Sixers do not have a player fully capable of matching up with Wagner’s combination of size and skill. They have especially struggled to rebound the basketball, ranking 29th in total rebounds on the season, and this will only be magnified by the absence of Andre Drummond, who has a sprained ankle. Expect Wagner to continue playing some of his best basketball and record more than 39.5 combined points, rebounds and assists against a shorthanded Sixers squad.
Tobias Harris Less Than 12.5 Points
The Boston Celtics continue to look like the title favorites. The defending champions enter with a 17-4 record and hold an average margin of victory of +10.3 on the season. They now will face the Detroit Pistons who have come back to earth a bit after the strong start to the season.
The Pistons’ future is still entirely dependent on the outlook of their young core, but the organization accelerated the timeline by bringing in some key veterans this offseason. Tobias Harris has been at the heart of this and was handed a notable contract. So far this season, Harris has averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds across his 32.5 minutes of play. Harris has been held to less than 12.5 points in 10 of the 22 games he has played this season. He has also failed to reach this number in three of his past five games.
Expect this matchup with Boston to be one where Harris struggles. Players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have the athletic advantage and, while its offense remains the story, Boston ranks sixth in opponent points per game this season. Don’t be surprised if this matchup gets ugly and expect Harris to be on the outside looking in for most of the offensive production. Count on the Celtics to impose themselves in this game and for Harris to be held to less than 12.5 points for the 11th time this season.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must select players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
