Seven games will be tipping off throughout tonight’s slate of NBA games.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks will headline the matchups. The Thunder will be looking to bounce back after suffering a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday which has a case for being the best regular season matchup of the season thus far. This is not a loss Oklahoma City should hang their heads on but they will now look to bounce back against another Eastern Conference title contender.
In addition, the night will be kicked by the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Washington Wizards, the Milwaukee Bucks traveling to face the Orlando Magic, and the Indiana Pacers playing the Golden State Warriors with each game tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET. In addition, the Boston Celtics will host the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards will travel to face the Chicago Bulls. The final matchup of the night will be between the Brooklyn Nets and the Denver Nuggets tipping off at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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 January 10th. 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.
Coby White More Than 24.5 Points & Assists
Coby White continues to emerge as one of the larger bright spots within the Chicago Bulls organization. White’s breakout last season was the biggest storyline and he has built of it this year. The North Carolina product is averaging 18.5 points and 4.6 assists this season. He has recorded more than 24.5 combined points and assists in 16 of the 35 games he has played this year.
Chicago will host the Washington Wizards in tonight’s matchup. Washington enters this game with the worst record in the NBA, ranking last in opponents’ points per game, allowing the most three-point attempts per game, and ranking 20th in opponents’ field goal percentage. Chicago has played at a more rapid pace of late and has ranked fourth in the NBA across the past five games. The Wizards also rank fourth in pace on the season, so expect there to be plenty of transition opportunities in this matchup, in which White thrives.
The 24-year-old has recorded more than 24.5 points and assists in three of the past five games and also finished with 19 points and five assists on Wednesday, falling just shy. Washington’s defensive struggles will create more opportunities and the confidence that White has played with of late is notable. Look for him to remain in attack mode against one of the NBA’s bottom-feeders and for White to record more than 24.5 combined points and assists again tonight.
Buddy Hield Less Than 18.5 Points
There have already been some significant ups and downs during Buddy Hield’s time in Golden State. The 32-year-old is averaging 12.3 points on 42.7% shooting from the field and 38.7% on three-point attempts so far this season. The Warriors have tried a variety of offensive approaches this season to spark the team’s production. Hield’s scoring number is listed notably above his typical scoring average as he is expected to see a boost in offensive opportunities due to the injuries on the Warriors roster.
This is the second night of a back-to-back for the Warriors. Golden State secured a thrilling 107-104 victory over the Pistons last night in which Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins and Brandin Podziemski each missed. Steph Curry, Dennis Schroder and Draymond Green were each listed as questionable for the matchup earlier in the day but ended up suiting up. Keep an eye on the injury report leading into tonight’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
Even if Hield sees a boost in shot opportunities, his inconsistent output makes him hard to back. He struggles when forced to create his own shot and he may be expected to do this more depending on the available players. On the season overall he is shooting 43.7% on catch-and-shoot three-point attempts but just 28.4% in long-range shots off the dribble. This has been a problem throughout Hield’s career.
As a team, the Warriors have averaged just 102.0 points per game across their last ten road games, the worst mark in the league. Opposing small forwards have also attempted just 2.9 three-point attempts against the Pacers this year which is the fewest in the league. Hield has been held to less than 18.5 points in 29 of the 37 games played this season and expect tonight to be added to this list against the Pacers.
Keon Johnson More Than 19.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
The final matchup on tonight’s NBA slate will be between the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets. The Nets made it clear their desire to be in the driver’s seat for a top draft pick by trading away several veterans. With still about a month remaining until the trade deadline, Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Shake Milton have each been traded away. Brooklyn has shifted into more of a youth movement and is allowing the young players to play through their mistakes. Keon Johnson has been among the biggest beneficiaries of this opportunity.
On the season overall, Johnson is averaging just 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 21.1 minutes per game. However, he has seen his level of opportunity expand greatly following the roster shakeups. Across the past ten games, the Tennessee product is playing 31.0 minutes per game and averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He has recorded more than 19.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists just five times this season with each of them coming over the past 18 games.
Brooklyn will need to match Denver’s up-tempo style of play. The Nuggets rank fourth in the NBA in pace over the past 25 games. Nikola Jokic missed the past two matchups due to illness and his status is one to monitor leading up to tip-off. However, Johnson falls in the sweet spot of having plenty of opportunity for minutes regardless of how the game script plays out. The 22-year-old likely will not be pulled early if the game does slip out of reach and will be expected to be one of the primary statical producers if the game goes according to plan. Things are starting to click for Johnson as far as his processing of the game and confidence in himself. With his level of opportunity being higher than ever, look for Johnson to record more than 19.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists against the Western Conference opponent.
Tyrese Maxey Less Than 3.5 Three-Pointers Made
It has been a disastrous start to the Philadelphia 76ers season. While injuries will take the spotlight for why the season has fallen off the rails, the level of play from Tyrese Maxey is slightly more concerning. The former Kentucky product has exceeded expectations every step of the way in his NBA career thus far but has had some more struggles this year with the expectations brought on by his newly-signed max contract hanging over him.
Overall, Maxey is averaging 25.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game His most notable dropoff has been in his efficiency. Maxey is shooting just 42.1% from the field and 33.8% from beyond the three-point arc. Throughout his career, he has shot 46.1% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc including finishing two separate seasons ranked in the top five in three-point percentage.
What is becoming clear is how much Tyrese Maxey benefits from playing off the gravity of Joel Embiid. The former MVP has been limited to just 13 games this season forcing much more on the shoulders of Maxey. Paul George’s injuries have only compounded this as it has left more defensive attention on Maxey. He has been held to less than 3.5 made three-pointers in 18 of the 29 games he has played this season. The all-star guard has been held below 3.5 made three-pointers in five of his last six games including shooting 3-14 from beyond the arc on Wednesday. Maxey’s shooting will eventually return to form but he is struggling with the additional defensive attention and looks worn down from the the amount of miles he is logging. He currently ranks fourth in the NBA in minutes per game. Maxey will eventually return to form when this Sixers roster begins to look completed but count on him to be held to less than 3.5 three-pointers tonight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander More Than 5.5 Assists
The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday in a battle between the best records in both conferences. This was a potential NBA Finals preview and a game that clearly meant something to that Cavaliers team. The Thunder will now pick themselves up off the mat and face another Eastern Conference contender as they play the Knicks today. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains right near the top of the MVP race and is averaging 31.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game on the season.
There are plenty of areas where Gilgeous-Alexander shines in the stat sheet and on the floor. But his playmaking sometimes does not get highlighted enough. His 6.1 assists per game falls just shy of the 6.2 assists per game last year and Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded more than 5.5 assists in 20 of the 36 games this season.
While there is no doubt that Gilgeous-Alexander is the face of the Thunder, they have a deep roster with players who can step up in any role. There is trust between the supporting cast and their superstar which is rare in today’s NBA and SGA is more than comfortable taking a backseat to others when the moment calls for it. This will be the second matchup between the Thunder and Knicks so far this season. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points and seven assists in the first game. He also has recorded more than 5.5 assists in six of the last eight games. Count on him to continue creating for others whenever the opportunity is there and for him to record more than 5.5 assists again tonight.
Paul George More Than 11.5 Assists & Rebounds
It has not been the ideal start to Paul George’s Sixers tenure that he or the team hoped for. While the organizational issues are far deeper than George’s production, he has not been able to elevate the Sixers in the games that Joel Embiid has not played in the way it was hoped. This opportunity will be on the table again tonight as Embiid will miss tonight’s matchup with the Pelicans due to a left foot sprain.
While George is averaging just 16.2 points per game on 41.4% shooting from the floor, he has done a nice job impacting the game as a playmaker and rebounding the basketball. The nine-time All-Star is adding 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game on the season overall. He has recorded more than 11.5 assists and rebounds in ten of the 24 games he has played this season. Looking at matchups without Joel Embiid, George’s output has improved to 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. He has recorded more than 11.5 assists in rebounds in seven of these 11 games.
The Pelicans no longer hold the worst record in the NBA and did receive a spark from the return of Zion Williamson. Injuries have been the story of New Orleans season, even more than what the Sixers have been victims of. George got his first taste of boos from the Philadelphia faithful during the Sixers’ narrow victory over the Wizards on Wednesday in which they trailed with less than two minutes to play. This feels like it could be a pivotal game for the remainder of his Philadelphia tenure. The shooting slump will work itself out, but look for him to continue to make his impact felt in other ways and record more than 11.5 combined assists and rebounds without Embiid 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.
