It is a mild six-game NBA slate to kick off the week with a doubleheader in the late-night window.
The night will kick off with a 7:00 p.m. ET matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. A half-hour later, the Detroit Pistons will face the New York Knicks while the Toronto Raptors face the Golden State Warriors.
At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Houston Rockets will play the Memphis Grizzlies, and at 10:30 p.m. ET, a doubleheader will tip-off as the Los Angeles Lakers will face the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers host the Miami Heat.
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 Jan. 13th. 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.
Kawhi Leonard More Than 1.5 Three-Pointers
Tonight will mark the third game of the season that Kawhi Leonard is expected to suit up for as the Clippers take on the Miami Heat. Leonard made his season debut on Jan. 4th and will continue to be on a minutes limit. He played 19:25 and 20:41 of game time across his first two matchups. The Clippers have not played since Wednesday, Jan. 8th and Leonard missed that game, so he has not suited up since the 6th.
Los Angeles will host the Miami Heat tonight in Leonard’s second game in the Intuit Dome. This matchup is sure to mean more amid the ongoing tragic fires taking place in the state. Miami ranks 17th in three-point attempts allowed and its perimeter defense has further sunk amid the trade drama with Jimmy Butler. The Clippers will still only go as far as Leonard will take them, so expect his level of opportunity to begin to expand as he starts to settle in and with rest also on his side.
While Leonard is averaging just 10 points per game across these two performances, he is 5-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc, making more than 1.5 three-pointers in each game. Leonard shot 41.7% from beyond the arc last season and 41.6% the season prior. His 9.0 three-point attempts per 36 minutes is a significant career-high, with his previous being 6.2, though it is admittedly a low sample size. As he settles into whatever the new normal is for his knee and body, expect him to be more comfortable settling for long-range shots. Look for him to knock down at least two three-pointers tonight and don’t be surprised if he sets a new season-high for scoring.
Zach Edey More Than 6.5 Rebounds
The Memphis Grizzlies will travel to face the Houston Rockets tonight. Both of these youthful rosters look to be ahead of their expected curve and sit at second and third place in the Western Conference.
Houston ranks ninth in opponent rebounds and leads the league in rebounding overall. However, expect Zach Edey’s 7-foot-5 frame and notable strength to provide some unique issues in this game. Edey is averaging 10.2 points and 7.5 rebounds across his 21.2 minutes per game. He has recorded more than 6.5 rebounds in 16 of the 25 games he has played this season. Edey struggled in his first matchup against the Rockets, recording five fouls in under 18 minutes of play and being limited to just three rebounds. This matchup was on Thursday and was the Purdue product’s third-lowest rebounding output of the season.
Expect different results from Edey as he prepares for his second matchup against Houston. It is excellent at rebounding as a team, but Alperen Sengun is the only individual player averaging more than 7.6 rebounds per game. Count on Edey’s physical presence to make more of an impact tonight. The reigning National Player of the Year has flashed his competitiveness and mental toughness already and will be hungry for an improved performance. Expect a better effort and for Edey to record more than 6.5 rebounds for the 17th time this season.
Terry Rozier Less Than 1.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Miami Heat made a midseason trade last year for Terry Rozier hoping he could bring another spark to the offense. To this point, the results have been extremely underwhelming. Rozier averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds last season but has seen each of these numbers shrink in his second season with the Heat. He has started 18 of the 33 games and is averaging just 12.0 points, 2.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Rozier is shooting just 39.8% from the field and 29.0% from beyond the three-point arc.
Across his past 15 games, Rozier is averaging 11.8 points per game and is shooting just 38.7% from the field and 17.4% on three-point attempts. The Louisville product has been held to less than 1.5 three-pointers made in 19 of the 33 games he has played. Looking more recently, Rozier has been held to less than 1.5 made three-pointers in 11 of his past 13 games.
The Heat will take on the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, who have embraced a defensive identity this season. They rank fifth in opponent points per game, 12th in opponent field-goal percentage and fifth in opponent three-point percentage. With Rozier already struggling from beyond the arc and facing a tough defense, expect him to record less than 1.5 made three-pointers again tonight.
Trayce Jackson-Davis More Than 23.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists
The Golden State Warriors are in an interesting spot as a franchise. They are 19-19 on the season and currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference. While Steph Curry continues to play at a high level, they have struggled to get enough production from their supporting cast. Coach Steve Kerr and the organization have tried plenty of different rotations and leaned on different options, with Trayce Jackson-Davis being at the forefront of this lately.
On the season overall, Jackson-Davis is averaging 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists across his 19.9 minutes per game. Across his past 12 games, Jackson-Davis is averaging 11.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has flashed the ability to play the Draymond Green role as a playmaker in the half-court. He has recorded more than 23.5 points, rebounds and assists in nine of his past 12 games and is seeing 26.1 minutes of action per night.
The Warriors will square off against the Toronto Raptors tonight who remain early in their rebuild. They rank 27th in opponent scoring and are just 8-31 on the season overall. Golden State must capitalize on every winnable game it faces as it seeks another playoff run around Curry. Expect Jackson-Davis to continue to see expanded opportunities and record more than 23.5 combined points, rebounds and assists tonight.
James Harden More Than 7.5 Assists
The Los Angeles Clippers will return to the Intuit Dome tonight as they take on the Miami Heat. James Harden deserves credit for playing a key role in keeping the Clippers afloat amid the injury to Kawhi Leonard and the breakout of Norman Powell. Across the 35 games he has played, Harden is averaging 21.4 points, 7.9 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Harden has played a much more attack-minded brand of basketball this season compared to what he has shown over the past few years. While it has been necessary due to the makeup of the team, Harden is shooting a career-worst 38.9% from the field and connecting on just 33.9% of his three-point attempts. For his career, he has shot 44.0% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc.
With Leonard back on the floor and the Clippers inching to full strength, expect Harden to return to more of a playmaking-first role and see his assist numbers grow. The two-time assist champion has recorded more than 7.5 assists in 17 of the 35 games he has played and eclipsed this number in both the games played with Leonard on the floor. Expect Harden to be comfortable setting the table for the rest of the offense and record more than 7.5 assists in tonight’s matchup.
Ausar Thompson Less Than 7.5 Points
The career paths of Amen and Ausar Thompson are shaping up to be quite different. Down in Houston, Amen Thompson is amid his second-year breakout and has seen some notable growth in his statistical output and importance to the team. In Detroit, the opposite has been true of his twin brother. The Pistons have also improved their outlook as a team and are being looked at as more legitimate threats in the East. Cade Cunningham’s All-Star leap is upon us and the team follows his timeline.
Across the 17 games he has played, Ausar Thompson is averaging 7.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is shooting just 28.6% from beyond the three-point arc and 46.2% at the free-throw line this season. While the sample size is still relatively small, these are concerning splits for the 21-year-old. Detroit holds a 20-19 record on the season and is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Veterans like Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Simone Fontecchio and Tim Hardaway Jr. have provided more consistent positive minutes and there is no longer the leniency to allow Thompson to play through his mistakes.
Looking at tonight’s matchup, the Pistons will face the New York Knicks. They play a scrappy brand of basketball and rank eighth in the NBA in points allowed, seventh in transition points conceded and give up the third-fewest points off turnovers. Thompson will struggle to assert himself in transition and points will be hard to come by in the half-court setting. The Overtime Elite product has been held to less than 7.5 points in nine of the 17 games he has played this season, including three of his past five. Expect this trend to continue and for confidence in Thompson’s scoring production to remain small until he improves as a shooter.
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.
