A seven-game, 14-team NBA slate is on tap for basketball fans on Tuesday. Among the matchups to watch, the Celtics and Cavaliers battle in Cleveland for Eastern Conference supremacy. Later on, LeBron James and the Lakers take on the rival Clippers for Los Angeles bragging rights. 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 less than 7.5 rebounds
The Raptors will be without RJ Barrett (concussion) tonight. That should give total control of the offense to former Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes. This season, the forward has posted 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field. At 6’7″, the lanky two-way wing can stuff a stat sheet, but his production is volatile.
Even with limited competition from his own squad, Barnes will have his hands full on the glass tonight. The Knicks have surrendered 48.5 rebounds per game to opponents this season, the lowest mark in basketball. During Barnes’ seven career meetings with New York, he’s gone over this total only once. The former All-Star doesn’t have the kind of track record to support a double-double caliber outing in this one.
Jarrett Allen more than 9.5 rebounds
The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers have leaned on one of the game’s deepest starting fives. Cleveland’s talented, but under heralded, center deserves plenty of praise for the team’s hot start. Jarrett Allen has averaged 13.7 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting an efficient 70.6% from the field. The big man’s excellent two-way play gives him plenty of avenues to produce other than scoring.
Allen has a tantalizing matchup on Tuesday against the defending champions. This season, the Celtics have allowed 53.4 rebounds per game to opponents, fifth-most in the NBA. The former All-Star has reached double-digit boards in each of his previous four meetings with Boston. Against an undersized front court, Allen should have another stellar day on the glass.
Tyler Herro more than 7.5 assists
It’s a new era in Miami, with Jimmy Butler all but gone entering this week’s trade deadline. To fill the void left by the wing’s absence, Tyler Herro has stepped up. This season, the sixth-year pro has averaged 23.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Efficient shooting splits of 47.0/39.4/85.9 have helped earn the guard his first-ever All-Star game selection.
Herro’s shooting will get most of the attention, and for good reason. However, the Kentucky alum has shown progress as a passer recently. The 25-year-old has recorded 6.9 assists over his last ten games, going over this total in four of his last five outings. The Bulls have given up 29.1 assists per game, the second-worst mark in basketball. Against a porous defense, Herro will thrive as a playmaker.
Deandre Ayton more than 16.5 points
Don’t look now, but the Trail Blazers are red-hot. Portland has won eight of its last nine games, including a 121-119 overtime win vs. the Suns on Monday. In that contest, Deandre Ayton was the best player on the floor. The former number one pick dominated his old team, putting up 25 points and 20 rebounds over 42 minutes. This season, the big man has produced 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 57.3% from the field.
Yesterday’s outing wasn’t an aberration for Ayton; he’s scored at least 20 points in each of his last five appearances. He’ll have a chance to keep that streak going tonight against a Pacers team on the second leg of a back-to-back. This season, Indiana has allowed the ninth-most points per game (116.9) and the fifth-most points in the paint per game (50.5). With those numbers in mind, Portland’s center is well-positioned for another standout performance on Tuesday.
Rui Hachimura less than 4.5 rebounds
It’s been quite the few days for the Lakers. In one of the more stunning trades in sports history, Luka Doncic is now in Los Angeles, while Anthony Davis is in Dallas. The impact of the deal can’t be understated, but there’s plenty that needs to be settled in the short-term. An already thin L.A. roster will need its role players to step up on Tuesday. That includes Rui Hachimura, currently averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists this season.
On the same team as LeBron James, it’s difficult to trust any other wing. Despite his starting role with the Lakers, Hachimura’s production on the glass can be erratic. That makes Tuesday’s matchup difficult, as the Clippers have allowed the second-fewest rebounds per game to opponents (49.8). Over his last seven meetings with Los Angeles, Rui has gone over this total only once. Even with a bigger workload, the former first-round pick is a clear fade tonight.
Kawhi Leonard more than 7.5 assists + rebounds
We’ll stick in the City of Angels, where Kawhi Leonard hopes to continue his midseason comeback. By now, everyone knows how injury-prone the 33-year-old can be, having missed the first 34 games of the season. Still, it’s easy to forget just how good the six-time All-Star is when healthy. Through 11 games, The Claw has posted 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 24.5 minutes a night.
Even when they had Anthony Davis, the Lakers were a flawed defensive team. This season, the Purple and Gold have allowed the 11th-most points per game (114.3) and the eighth-most assists per game (27.4). Assuming Leonard is double-teamed, he should find some passing opportunities for his teammates. A thin front court will make snagging rebounds easier as well. Look for the future Hall of Famer to put together an all-around performance on Tuesday.
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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