It is a busy day of NBA basketball with games spread out from start to finish. As the league celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, eight games are tipping off starting at noon and going all the way through until 10:30 p.m. ET.
Most notably, the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Memphis Grizzlies, the Atlanta Hawks will play the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Phoenix Suns, and the Golden State Warriors will play the defending champion Boston Celtics. The final matchup of the night will take place between the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back for both teams.
There are plenty of 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 20th. 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.
Anthony Edwards More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers
Three-point attempts are being launched at an all-time high rate in the NBA and Anthony Edwards has been a part of this trend. The Timberwolves superstar is attempting a career-high 9.9 long-range attempts and connecting at a 42.9% rate on the season. This comes out to an average of 4.4 made three-pointers per game and Edwards has connected with more than 3.5 three-pointers in 30 of the 42 games that he has played.
One of these 12 games that he fell shy of this number was against the Memphis Grizzlies, whom the Timberwolves are facing again today. This matchup occurred on January 11th and is the only game out of his past nine that he has been held shy of more than 3.5 made three-pointers. Edwards had his worst perimeter shooting game of the season in this matchup. He finished with 15 points in 29:18 of game time shooting 4-for-13 from the field and 0-for-5 on three-point attempts. This is the only game all season he has been held without a made three-pointer and tied for his fewest perimeter attempts.
Looking at the season-long view, the Grizzlies rank 22nd in points allowed, 27th in three-point attempts allowed, and have given up the 19th-most made three-pointers in the league this year. Look for Edwards to get revenge tonight and get back on track from beyond the three-point arc. He will benefit from the league-leading pace the Grizzlies play with and look for him to connect with more than 3.5 made three-pointers for the ninth time in the past ten games.
Andrew Wiggins More Than 26.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
Injuries have taken a toll on the Golden State Warriors roster as they prepare to match up with the defending champion Boston Celtics tonight. Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, and Kyle Anderson are all set to miss tonight’s matchup while Steph Curry is also listed as questionable.
The Warriors will need someone to step up on their roster. Andrew Wiggins may be the biggest beneficiary of the increased opportunities. So far this season, Wiggins is averaging 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across his 29.5 minutes of play. He has recorded more than 26.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in just 12 games this season but has reached it in back-to-back games entering tonight. Wiggins is coming off his best statistical game of the season on Saturday in which he finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.
This will not be an easy matchup against this Celtics team, but I expect Wiggins to see plenty of opportunities with the ball. In addition, he has played better at home this season, averaging 25.6 combined points, rebounds and assists compared to the 22.3 he has averaged on the road. With the home crowd behind him and the Warriors desperate to get production from someone, Wiggins will look to impact the game and record more than 26.5 combined points, rebounds and assists tonight.
Walker Kessler More Than 11.5 Rebounds
The Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans round out the bottom of the Western Conference sitting in 14th and 15th place on the year. While any playoff hopes have already vanished, both teams are still figuring out their long-term direction and will be searching for takeaways from their young talent. Walker Kessler falls directly in this category and has heard his name brought up in trade rumors throughout this season.
Kessler is averaging 10.8 points and 11.3 rebounds across the 29.6 minutes per game he has played this season. He has recorded more than 11.5 rebounds in 14 of the 32 games he has played and has a great chance to add to this tonight. Utah will be facing off against a New Orleans Pelicans team that ranks 27th in total rebounds, 27th in opponent rebounds allowed, and 26th in opponent offensive rebounds given up.
Expect Kessler’s 7-foot frame and 7-foot-4 wingspan to cause some problems against a Pelicans roster on which no player averages more than 8.2 rebounds per game. Kessler missed the previous game so he should be fresh, and recorded more than 11.5 rebounds in seven of the past 11 games he has played. Look for the Auburn product to add to this tonight and make his presence felt on the boards by recording more than 11.5 rebounds against the Pelicans.
James Harden Less Than 23.5 Points
The final matchup of today’s NBA slate will be between the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls. This will be the second night of a back-to-back for both teams with the Clippers pulling out a 116-102 victory over the Lakers last night on their first trip to the brand new Intuit Dome. Harden logged 40 minutes last night and finished with 21 points, 12 assists, and four rebounds. He shot 7-for-19 from the floor in the cross-town rivalry victory.
While Harden is still capable of getting hot on any given night, the 35-year-old has increasingly struggled to bounce back during the later stages of his career. He has played eight games on the second night of a back-to-back this season and is averaging just 18.0 points, 8.3 assists, and 6.4 rebounds in these matchups. The former MVP has shot just 35.5% from the floor and 25.0% from beyond the three-point arc in these games. Last night’s game also marks the third-most minutes he has clocked in a matchup all season.
The Chicago Bulls are nothing to write home about defensively but expect Harden’s offense to be a bit limited and for shots to be hard to come by. Kawhi Leonard will not be playing tonight and Harden will sit at the top of the defensive scouting report for the Bulls. Harden has been held to less than 22.5 points in 25 of the 39 games he has played overall and fatigue will play a factor in this matchup. Expect him to be more than comfortable operating in more of a playmaking-first role and record less than 22.5 points tonight.
Donovan Mitchell More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Cleveland Cavaliers remain at the top of the Eastern Conference with their 35-6 record. They have a great chance to continue adding to this as they host the Phoenix Suns who have underwhelmed from a season-long perspective. Donovan Mitchell will continue to headline the Cavaliers’ offensive attack and is averaging 23.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on the season. The five-time All-Star is shooting a career-best 40.1% from beyond the three-point arc this season while launching 9.2 attempts per game.
Overall, Mitchell is averaging 3.7 made three-pointers per game and has recorded more than 3.5 made three-pointers in 20 of the 39 games he has played this season. Most recently, Mitchell shot 4-for-15 from beyond the three-point arc during the victory over the Timberwolves.
Looking at the Suns’ defense, they rank 20th in opponents’ points per game, 17th in three-point attempts allowed, and 16th in opponents’ three-point percentage. Mitchell will continue to be at the epicenter of the Cavaliers’ offensive attack. He will try to capitalize on the below-average perimeter defense he will face. We can expect him to be in attack mode tonight and record more than 3.5 made three-pointers for the 21st time this season.
Norman Powell More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers
Norman Powell has made a strong case for the Most Improved Award with his play this season, producing a career-best season at the age of 31. The NBA Champion is averaging 23.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this season. He has been exactly what the Clippers needed during Kawhi Leonard’s injury absence and following the offseason loss of Paul George.
Looking at his production from beyond the three-point arc, Powell is shooting 44.6% from deep while launching 7.9 three-pointers per game. This comes out to an average of 3.5 made three-pointers per game and Powell has connected on more than 3.5 made three-pointers in 18 of the 34 games he has played.
Powell has seen his offensive role reduced a bit since Leonard’s return to the floor but the two-time Finals MVP will miss tonight’s matchup. In addition, the Bulls rank 29th in opponents’ points per game and 26th in opponents three-point attempts allowed. Look for Powell to see an uptick in offensive opportunities without Leonard on the floor and with Harden fatigued. Count on him to knock down more than 3.5 three-pointers for the 19th time this season as the Clippers search for their fifth consecutive win.
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!
