Following a thrilling 12-game slate of NBA action yesterday, there is just one game being played tonight. The New York Knicks will travel to Toronto to face the Raptors in what will mark the first time OG Anunoby faces the team that initially drafted him on his old home court. The lone matchup of the night tips off at 7:40 p.m. EST.
This will be the third time the Knicks and Raptors have faced off since making the blockbuster trade last season. Anunoby was injured during the trip up to Toronto but did add 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in a 26-point victory when the Raptors traveled to New York. Immanuel Quickley will be unable to suit up against his former squad due to an elbow injury, but RJ Barrett will be ready to face off with his former team and has played impressive basketball of late.
While there will be busier days of NBA basketball moving forward, there are still several 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 9th. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for Monday night’s action.
Jakob Poeltl More Than 10.5 Rebounds
One of the more underrated storylines of this NBA season has been the level of play from Jakob Poeltl. The veteran big man ranks sixth in the entire NBA in rebounds and is averaging a career-high 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds across his 32.7 minutes per game. Poeltl will square off with one of the few players rebounding at a higher rate than himself, as Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 13.2 rebounds per game. It should be noted that Towns is listed as questionable, but if he is unable to go, this should only increase Poeltl’s rebounding opportunities.
So far this season, Poeltl has recorded more than 10.5 rebounds in 12 of the 23 games he has played. He has recorded 19 rebounds in two separate games and has had at least seven rebounds in every game this season. The Knicks are not a great rebounding team and average 49.9 boards per game, tied for 25th in the league.
Expect the Raptors’ big man to continue asserting himself on the glass and make his impact felt in this game. If Towns can suit up, it will be an interesting battle between the two centers, but Poeltl should be in line for a massive rebounding output if Towns cannot play. In either case, feel confident in him recording more than 10.5 rebounds for the 13th time this season.
OG Anunoby More Than 17.5 Points
All eyes will be on OG Anunoby as he returns to the place where he was first drafted to play. The 27-year-old has been a seamless fit on this Knicks team and is averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game, plus 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals. Anunoby has only seen his opportunity grow in his second season with the Knicks and will have the added motivation of facing his former team.
Overall, Anunoby has recorded more than 17.5 points in 10 of the 23 games he has played this season. He has been shooting the ball well, going nine-of-19 on three-point attempts over the past three games. In addition, Toronto has struggled defensively this season. They rank 25th in opponent points per game allowing 117.4 on the year. The Raptors also rank 24th in opponent three-point percentage and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
Expect Anunoby to be in attack mode against his former team tonight. He is receiving more freedom in the Knicks offense this year and will have more on his plate if Towns cannot play for the second consecutive contest. Expect emotions to play a factor and for Anunoby to be ready to perform in his first time back in Toronto. Look for him to record more than 17.5 points for the 11th time this season and provide a reminder to Raptors fans why he should be missed.
Mikal Bridges Less Than 16.5 Points
While Anunoby has been a seamless fit in the Knicks offense this year, the same cannot fully be said about Mikal Bridges. Despite leading the NBA in minutes per game at 38.2, Bridges has taken a statistical step back and has gone through stretches where he has struggled shooting the ball. The Villanova product is averaging 16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Bridges is shooting 47.2% from the field and 32.9% from beyond the three-point arc.
Through the first 23 games he has played, Bridges has been held to less than 16.5 points 11 times. He will have his shot opportunities, but Bridges has not been consistent enough as a shooter, and expect this to be a matchup he struggles in. The former Nets star has been held to less than 50% shooting from the field in 12 of the 23 games this season. In contrast to the physicality of a player like Anunoby, Bridges is more smooth and skilled in his attack.
While this current roster is not quite to the standard of many Toronto teams, Bridges has struggled against the Raptors in his career. Overall, he has averaged 14.9 points per game against Toronto and produced scoring outputs of 11 and 13 in his past two matchups. While this will be the first time he faces them in a Knicks uniform, expect Bridges to take a back seat to Anunoby and record less than 16.5 points tonight.
RJ Barrett More Than 27.5 Points & Assists
While OG Anunoby was the headline of the massive trade that occurred last year, RJ Barrett is a primary reason why the Raptors were willing to do the deal. The former third-overall pick has made the most of his change of scenery and is taking strides in the right direction for his development. Through the opening 21 games this season, Barrett has averaged 23.3 points and 5.9 assists per game. Both of these are career-highs with the assist output being especially notable as his previous career-high was 4.1 last season with the Raptors. He never averaged more than 3.3 assists per game throughout an entire season before the trade.
Barrett has recorded more than 27.5 combined points and assists in 11 of the 21 games he has played this year. He has been trusted as more of a decision-maker within the Toronto offense and made the most of these chances. The Duke product has recorded as many as 15 assists in a game this season and will carry the same motivation of facing his former team.
Expect Barrett to be in attack mode and make his impact felt in this game. In his lone matchup with the Knicks after the trade last season, Barrett finished with 20 points and four assists in just 29 minutes of action in the blowout loss. Expect a focused performance from Barrett and for the forward to record more than 27.5 points and assists for the 12th time this year.
Scottie Barnes More Than 37.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
This season is about development for the Toronto Raptors, and the rate at which Scottie Barnes continues improving will dictate when this team begins to emerge as a contender again. The early signs have been impressive, with the fourth-year forward especially taking a stride forward this season. While he missed some time due to an orbital fracture, Barnes has averaged 21.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.
While the Knicks hold a defensive-minded identity, they have not been overwhelmingly impressive on this side of the floor so far this year. New York ranks 10th in opponent points per game, 16th in defensive efficiency, and 25th in rebounding so far this year.
Scottie Barnes makes his impact felt across all areas of production. He has been especially impressive since returning from the orbital injury and has recorded more than 37.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in four of the last five games. Barnes has improved as a playmaker and has led the Raptors in assists in each of the past five games. The Florida State product has recorded at least seven assists in each of these games, including a career-high 14 assists last time he took the floor. Expect Barnes to impact the game flow in a variety of ways and build off his recent string of strong play to record more than 37.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists tonight.
Josh Hart Less Than 13.5 Points
While there are plenty of storylines surrounding this New York Knicks team, Josh Hart deserves to be mentioned near the top. The 29-year-old is playing a career-high 37.3 minutes per game and averaging 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists thus far. He has shot the ball incredibly well this season connecting on 59.8% of his shots from the field and 39.2% from beyond the three-point arc. Both these numbers are well above Hart’s career averages of 46.7% from the field and 34.6%. on three-point attempts.
While his level of impact is sustainable for this Knicks team, expect the scoring outputs to decrease as the season progresses. Hart has been held to less than 13.5 points in five of the past seven games, even while shooting 50% or greater from the field in each one. There are more deserving offensive talents on the roster who will rank higher in the Knicks’ pecking order, so Hart’s shooting percentage will begin to sink as the sample size expands.
Looking at tonight’s matchup, expect Hart to impact the game in other ways. He is best utilized as a dirty-work guy and has played above his head as a scorer this season. Hart was held to less than 13.5 points in 60 of the 81 games he played last season for the Knicks. Expect his hot shooting to cool off and his offensive role to begin to shrink as Hart records less than 13.5 points tonight.
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.
