Four days into the new year, basketball fans will be treated to a loaded nine-game NBA slate. Among the contests worth watching, a showdown between Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio is appointment viewing. Later on, the shorthanded Grizzlies travel to The Bay to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors. With so many big names suiting up, there’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections ahead of Saturday’s exciting matchups!
Jalen Brunson more than 25.5 points
Friday was a bit of a disappointment for Jalen Brunson. While the All-Star accounted for 22 points and nine assists, he shot a lackluster nine-of-23 from the field in a 117-107 loss to the Thunder. Last night aside, it’s been another terrific season for New York’s captain; he’s averaged 25.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and a career-high 7.7 assists over 34 games this season.
Tonight’s game is the perfect scenario for Brunson and the Knicks to bounce back. Historically, this is a matchup the guard has dominated in, scoring an average of 29.9 points over his last eight meetings with Chicago. This year, Bulls have one of the association’s worst defenses, giving up the second-most points per game in the NBA (121.1). Look for JB to take over in a game that should see plenty of scoring from the visiting team.
Brook Lopez more than 4.5 rebounds
Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo playing the best basketball of his career, the Bucks have been inconsistent at best this season. Still, the team has gotten more out of their role players lately, including Brook Lopez. After a rough first few weeks, the big man put together 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in the month of December.
Following a tough loss to the Nets on Thursday, Milwaukee will look to get back on track vs. a Trail Blazers team that struggles on the glass. Portland is giving up 53.5 rebounds to opponents this season, the seventh-worst mark in basketball. Lopez isn’t always a sure bet to grab boards, but he should have ample opportunity on Saturday.
Chris Paul more than 8.5 assists
The Spurs finally look like a competent team. Most of the credit (deservedly) goes to Victor Wembanyama, but don;’t forget about Chris Paul. The future Hall of Famer, signed this offseason, has been as advertised for San Antonio, handing out a team-leading 8.4 assists to go along with 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds through 34 games.
On Friday, CP3 managed to dish out 11 assists vs. the Nuggets. The two teams meet again tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, so there should be some familiarity for the Point God. This season, Denver is giving up 30.0 assists to opponents, the highest total in the NBA. There’s no reason to assume Paul can’t put together another impressive passing performance.
Karl-Anthony Towns more than 4.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns is having a superb first season in New York. Through 34 games, the big man has put up 24.7 points and a league-leading 14.0 rebounds on efficient 54.8/44.0/83.4 shooting splits. While the four-time All-Star’s 3.3 assists don’t stand out, that number doesn’t do his passing skills justice.
Towns’ assists can be hard to predict, as he’s gone over this total in 16 of his appearances this season (47%). However, he’s recorded four or more dimes in eight of his last 12 games. This season, the Bulls are giving up the second-most assists in the NBA (28.8). KAT should be able to pick apart Chicago’s porous defense, even if it comes via passing rather than scoring.
Donte DiVincenzo more than 2.5 three-pointers made
After a brutal start to the season, Donte DiVincenzo has gotten into a groove for the Timberwolves. Over his last five games, the sharpshooter has posted 16.2 points, draining 48.7% of his 7.8 attempts from three-point range. It’s no surprise that’s correlated with a minutes boost, as head coach Chris Finch has left the Villanova product on the floor for 30.7 minutes during that time.
DiVincenzo should be able to keep his shooting streak alive on Saturday. The Pistons have struggled to defend the perimeter all season, giving up the fourth-highest three-point percentage to opponents (37.8%). After DDV cleared this total in four of his last five outings, all against above-average defenses, there’s no reason not to ride the hot hand tonight.
Desmond Bane more than 19.5 points
The Grizzlies are in a state of flux without leading scorer Ja Morant, sidelined due to a shoulder injury. In the point guard’s absence, Desmond Bane steps in as one of Memphis’ leading scorers. It’s been a down year for the All Star, currently putting up 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 46.9% shooting from the field.
Bane has begun to turn things around lately, producing nearly 20 points per game during his last ten appearances. Over the past two seasons, the 26-year-old has averaged 22.1 points in 44 games played without Morant. The Warriors are a solid defensive team, allowing the ninth-fewest points to opponents. Still, with such a large share of the offense up for grabs, it’s difficult to fade Bane tonight.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not 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 can not pick the same player twice and you must pick 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 b.armetta) 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.
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