It is a mild Friday Night NBA slate with just three games set to take place on December 20th.
In the first matchup, tipping off at 7:10 PM EST, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the Charlotte Hornets in the fourth matchup between these two teams already this season. Thirty minutes later, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to carry their momentum from their NBA Cup victory as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the final matchup, taking place at 8:10 PM EST, the Oklahoma City Thunder will travel to Miami to face the Heat for the second night of a back-to-back and third game in four days.
While there will be busier nights in the NBA, each of these matchups has the potential to be an exciting game. There are 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 20th. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for Friday night’s action.
Giannis Antetokounmpo More Than 31.5 Points
The list of names playing better basketball than Giannis Antetokounmpo this season is incredibly small. The two-time MVP is right back in the mix for winning the award again and currently is third in DraftKings odds for the award. Antetokounmpo is leading the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game while adding 11.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
While the season-long sample size is impressive enough, the Greek Freak has hit another gear in recent games. Over his past ten games played, Antetokounmpo is averaging 34.4 points per game and has recorded more than 31.5 points in seven of the 10 games. He approaches each game with a desire that opponents struggle to match and expect this to continue to be the case tonight.
While Cleveland is better equipped to match up with Antetokounmpo than most, the superstar will still have his scoring opportunities. The Cavaliers built their identity as a defensive-minded team, but have dropped to 11th in opponent points per game and ninth in defensive efficiency after being among the leaders in this category for the start of the season. Cleveland also ranks 15th in opponents’ transition points per game which is an area where Giannis is especially dangerous in the attack. This will be the third matchup between these two teams. While Atenteokounmpo missed one of these games, he finished with 34 points in the other. Expect the Bucks superstar to assert himself again tonight and score more than 31.5 points for the eighth time in the past 11 games and second consecutive matchup against the Cavaliers.
Paul George More Than 19.5 Points
After a rocky start to his Sixers tenure, Paul George looks to be settling in. The nine-time all-star suffered two bone bruises in his knee and did not reach expectations with his play at the start of the season. Across the nine games he played in November, George averaged just 14.4 points per game and recorded a 49% true shooting percentage while connecting on just 28.6% of his three-point attempts. In the five games he has played in December, George is averaging 22.0 points per game on 64% true shooting and connecting on 46% of his three-point attempts on a higher volume.
George is coming off his Sixers’ career-high on Monday when he dropped 33 points against this same Hornets team. He also scored 29 points in the previous matchup with the Hornets and is shooting 53.7% from the field and 48.1% on three-point attempts across the three matchups this season. Philadelphia has been off since Monday, so George will have fresh legs for this matchup. The Hornets will also be without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who served as a primary defender on George for much of the previous matchups.
While Philadelphia still has not seen a consistent sample size of the team fully constructed, George was brought in to be a significant piece this offseason. It has been more of a priority to create shots for him in recent games and George has looked more comfortable since ditching the bulky knee brace. After scoring more than 19.5 points just once in his first nine games, George has recorded 20+ points in three of the past five matchups. Look for him to pick up right where he left off and record more than 19.5 points for the third time this season against Charlotte.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Less Than 29.5 Points
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 24.1 years old, but three games in four nights is a lot for any athlete. Fatigue will be a factor in this matchup and expect this to impact the man who carries the most weight in the franchise the most tonight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.5 points this season along with 6.3 assists, and 5.4 rebounds. He bounced back from his 21-point performance on Tuesday, in which he was held to 8-24 shooting against the Bucks, by scoring 35 points last night. However, this will be a tough matchup with the Heat who rank sixth in opponents points per game this season and 10th in defensive efficiency. While this will be the first matchup between these two opponents this year, Gilgeous-Alexander has been held to less than 29.5 points in 12 of the 25 games this season.
Expect some tired legs to show face tonight and for Miami to make this a defensive-oriented style of game. Oklahoma City is built to compete in these styles of games as well, but this is not a matchup that has the making of a massive scoring performance for Gilgeous-Alexander. Expect him to be held to less than 29.5 points tonight and for this game to be limited in scoring across the board.
Isaiah Hartenstein More Than 11.5 Rebounds
The impact of Isaiah Hartenstein has been clear since he returned to the floor from the broken hand which kept him out for the first 15 games. In the 11 games since he has returned, Hartenstein is averaging 12.5 points and 12.3 rebounds across his 30.4 minutes of play. He has recorded 12 or more rebounds in eight of the 11 games and has a great chance to add to this tonight.
So far this season Miami ranks 13th in rebounding and 14th in opponents’ rebounds per game. Bam Adebayo has underwhelmed relative to expectations and will likely be the matchup on Hartenstein tonight. Adebayo stands at 6-foot-9, giving Hartenstein the size advantage at 7 feet. Looking at the recent production of centers, Jalen Duren recorded 16 rebounds on Monday and RJ Barrett tallied 11 rebounds the game before.
Hartenstein’s primary focus will continue to be on rebounding the basketball for this Thunder team. Expect him to use his size and physicality to assert himself tonight and for the Heat to have no true answer. Hartenstein is making his case for one of the best rebounders in the NBA and should have no trouble recording more than 11.5 rebounds for the ninth time in 12 games as he faces the Heat tonight.
Georges Niang More Than 1.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Milwaukee Bucks have done a nice job turning their season around, but still hold some concerns on the defensive end. They rank tenth in opponents’ points per game, 14th in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed, and 11th in opponents’ three-point percentage. Cleveland leads the entire NBA in three-point percentage and is 11th in long-range attempts.
As is the case in just about all NBA games in today’s age, expect this three-point battle to play a key role in deciding the victor. While Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland will headline the attack, expect George Niang to play a significant role. So far this season Niang is averaging 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game across his 20.8 minutes of play. He is fourth on the Cavaliers in three-point volume attempting 4.6 perimeter shots per game and connecting at a 36.3% rate. This is slightly below the 39.5% rate that Niang has connected from beyond the arc throughout his NBA career.
Niang enters this game having made more than 1.5 three-pointers in three consecutive games. He also has reached this total in 12 of the 27 games this season. Niang has seen his role in the offense grow and played a season-high 31:28 of game time three games ago against the Heat. Look for this level of opportunity to continue and for Niang to be eager to let it fly whenever he has an opportunity. Expect Cleveland to attempt to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez away from the basket and spread the floor with Niang being firmly in the game plan in this attack. Count on the 31-year-old to record more than 1.5 made three-pointers for the fourth consecutive game tonight.
Jimmy Butler More Than 28.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
Jimmy Butler finds his name in the news once again and has been at the forefront of the NBA trade rumors. While the Miami Heat evaluate his future with the team, Butler has continued to produce at a high level on the floor. Overall this season he is averaging 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
Butler is coming off his best statistical output of the season the last time he was on the floor. On Monday he dropped 35 points, 19 rebounds, and ten assists against the Pistons. The six-time all-star also has recorded more than 28.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in 11 of the 19 games he has played.
While Oklahoma City is a talented team that will give you a battle whenever you face them, this is as great of an opportunity as the Heat could ask for. Expect tired legs to show up for the Thunder and for Butler to have his fingerprints all over this matchup. Count on the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Finals MVP to make an impact in each area of the box score and record more than 28.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists against the top team in the Western Conference 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.
