A nine-game, eighteen-team slate is on tap for basketball fans on Thursday. Among the matchups to watch, Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets going against the red-hot Kings could make for an exciting game. Later on, historic rivals meet in Los Angeles when the Lakers host the Celtics. With several big names suiting up, there’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections ahead of tonight’s matchups!
Scottie Barnes more than 6.5 assists
Scottie Barnes isn’t a finished product, but the 23-year-old is still one of the best two-way players in the NBA. This season, the lanky wing has put up 19.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists. The former All-Star isn’t the most consistent scorer, but superb all-around play makes him an elite fantasy basketball asset.
The Raptors will get to face a feeble Hawks defense on Thursday. This season, Atlanta has given up the third-most points (118.9) and the third-most assists (28.5) to opponents. Over the last four meetings between these two teams, Barnes has gone over seven assists three different times. The forward should find success once again as a distributor tonight.
Paolo Banchero more than 7.5 rebounds
A once-promising season for the Magic has hit a speed bump. Since Paolo Banchero’s return from a torn oblique, Orlando has lost five of its last six games. To be fair, that’s not on the All-Star; he’s averaged 22.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists during that time. Still, the team might need more from its franchise player if they want to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Tuesday’s 32-minute outing suggests that head coach Jamahl Mosley is ready to ramp up Banchero’s workload. The power forward will get a juicy matchup tonight against the Trail Blazers. This season, the Trail Blazers have allowed the seventh-most points (116.5) and fifth-most rebounds (53.5) to opponents. Against a front court that struggles to box out, Orlando’s young star should remain active. Expect Banchero to flirt with a double-double for an Orlando team in desperate need of a big performance.
PJ Washington less than 1.5 three-pointers made
Following a one-point loss to Minnesota last night, the Mavericks will look to rebound on Thursday. That won’t be easy on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Western Conference-leading Thunder. If Dallas has any hope of pulling off an upset, it will need P.J. Washington to step up. The forward has been solid, if unspectacular this season. Through 37 games, he’s posted 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 43.4% from the field (36.4 3PT%).
Oklahoma City’s main strength on defense is guarding the perimeter. This season, the Thunder have allowed the second-fewest three-pointers made (12.5) and the lowest three-point percentage (32.4%). That’s bad news for Washington, who has made multiple treys only once over his last six appearances. Considering how difficult it is to shoot against OKC, this is the perfect spot to fade an inconsistent scorer.
Nikola Jokic more than 1.5 three-pointers made
Pundits and fans alike were more than ready to dismiss the Nuggets after a shaky start to the season. However, Denver is currently fourth in the Western Conference, thanks in large part to Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP is enjoying another historic campaign, recording 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.9 assists.
The center has had one of his best shooting seasons, ranking third in the league in three-point efficiency (47.5 3PT%). That should come in handy tonight against the Kings. Sacramento has given up the second-most three-pointers made (14.5) and the fifth-highest three-point percentage (37.5%) to opponents. Look for Denver’s superstar to knock down some buckets from beyond the arc.
De’Aaron Fox more than 5.5 assists
The vibes in Sacramento right now are immaculate. Under interim head coach Doug Christie, the Kings have won ten of their last 12 games, surging back into the Western Conference playoff picture. Among the names responsible for this midseason turnaround, De’Aaron Fox stands out. The All-Star has averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists through 40 games.
While Fox is a score-first guard, he’s still a willing passer in the right spot. That could come tonight against a Nuggets squad allowing 29.4 assists per game, the highest mark in basketball. Over his last 10 outings vs. Denver, the 27-year-old has produced 8.5 assists per game. There’s a good chance that trend continues on Thursday.
Derrick Jones Jr. more than 10.5 points
The up-and-down health of Kawhi Leonard makes production from the Clippers difficult to predict. That’s especially true at forward, where a solid collection of role players have bounced around the starting lineup all month. Among those names, Derrick Jones Jr. has the highest upside. Signed this summer from Dallas, the ninth-year pro has put up 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds this season.
Those numbers don’t stand out at first, but the veteran has only played 24.5 minutes over 41 games. When Jones Jr. garners more than 30 minutes, he’s posted 14.8 points. Even without a large workload, tonight’s matchup with the Wizards should lead to plenty of buckets. This season, Washington is allowing the most points (122.4) and the second-most three-pointers made (14.5) to opponents. Whether he starts or not, DJJ should clear this total against the game’s worst defensive unit.
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.
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