The second half starts now. With NBA All-Star weekend festivities over, this season’s stretch run kicks off with nine games on Thursday. Among the matchups to watch, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies duel with Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers in Indianapolis. Elsewhere, the Celtics look to continue their title defense against a 76ers squad desperate for a win in primetime. There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections ahead of tonight’s matchups!
Al Horford more than 4.5 rebounds
What separates the Celtics from most other teams isn’t their outstanding group of starters. It’s Boston’s abundance of depth, allowing them to mix and match superstars with high-end role players over the course of 48 minutes. Al Horford’s best days are behind him, but the big man still has a bit left in the tank. This season, the 38-year-old has put up 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 43 games played.
Tonight’s rivalry matchup could be the perfect spot for Horford to shine. The veteran has tallied at least five rebounds in six of his last nine meetings with the 76ers. While the former All-Star’s production is heavily dependent on workload, he’s logged at least 20 minutes in each of his last five outings. Another dependable Horford performance against Philadelphia, his old employer, wouldn’t be a surprise.
Ja Morant more than 7.5 assists
A Grizzlies team with championship aspirations hasn’t gotten the most out of Ja Morant thus far. The 25-year-old has already established himself as one of the association’s most talented young players. However, he’s been inconsistent at best this season. Through 32 games, the former Rookie of the Year has averaged 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 44.7% from the field.
Thursday’s high-octane environment should bring out the best in Memphis’ young star. The Grizzlies play at the NBA’s fastest pace (104.19), while the Pacers are ranked seventh (99.73). Morant has recorded at least eight assists in each of his last four meetings with Indiana. In a game that has all the makings of a shootout, there might be some easy transition buckets for both teams. Assuming that’s the case, Ja’s playmaking skills will be on full display tonight.
Karl-Anthony Towns more than 41.5 points + rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns has looked like a man amongst boys all season for the Knicks. New York’s newest superstar has wasted no time getting adjusted to life in the Big Apple, earning his fifth career All-Star game selection. Through 49 games, KAT has posted 24.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 53.4% from the field (43.8 3PT%). Add all those numbers up, and you have the Eastern Conference’s most dominant center.
Towns has had his fair share of monster fantasy basketball performances this season, including five different 40+ point games. Two of those instances have come against the Bulls, most recently on January 4th. This season, Chicago has surrendered the most points in the paint (55.9) and the third-most rebounds (55.1) per game. It’s unreasonable to expect another jaw-dropping stat line, but a 30-point double-double? That’s more than realistic for KAT on Thursday.
Paolo Banchero more than 31.5 points + rebounds
The return of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero hasn’t led to many wins for the Magic. In fact, since the pair reunited on January 23rd, Orlando has lost seven of its last 11 contests. Still, given the amount of talent on this roster, it’s fair to assume the best is yet to come. That’s especially true for Banchero, one of the sport’s most exciting young stars. This season, the power forward has generated 22.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
It’s no secret that the Magic are an offensively limited team, averaging an NBA-worst 104.0 points per game. If Orlando is going to score, it’ll need its franchise cornerstones to produce. Luckily, tonight’s matchup is against a Hawks team allowing 118.8 points per game, fifth-worst in basketball. Over Banchero’s last three games vs. Atlanta, he’s accounted for 30 points and six rebounds two different times. Another stellar performance should be expected against an opponent that struggles to guard anyone.
Josh Giddey more than 1.5 three-pointers made
By trading Zach LaVine to Sacramento, the Bulls have opened up plenty of minutes for an intriguing group of guards. Among the names set for a bigger role in the second half, Josh Giddey stands out. Acquired last summer from the Thunder for Alex Caruso, the Australian has shown flashes of potential this season. Through 51 games, the 22-year-old has averaged 12.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
What Giddey isn’t known for is his shooting, knocking down just 44.6% of his shots this season (34.5 3PT%). That’s changed recently, as the guard has nailed at least two three-pointers in five of his last six appearances. When these teams last met in January, the former All-Rookie Team selection knocked down three treys. This season, opponents have connected on a league-high 37.8% of their three-point attempts vs. New York. With that in mind, Giddey could be in store for another excellent evening from beyond the arc.
Russell Westbrook more than 10.5 points
It’s taken some time, but Russell Westbrook has grown comfortable with the post-superstardom portion of his NBA career. In his first year with the Nuggets, the former MVP has brought hustle and athleticism to a team in need of instant energy. Over the last few months, head coach Mike Malone has given the veteran an increased workload. The results so far have been terrific. In 27 games as a starter this season, Westbrook has averaged 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
A hamstring strain has kept Westbrook out of Denver’s last seven games. However, he’s off of the injury report for tonight’s contest against the Hornets. The future Hall of Famer has reached 11 points in eight of his last nine outings, all starts. There’s a chance the guard has a minutes restriction, especially if this one turns into a blowout. Still, I’m willing to guess Brodie won’t need much time to hit a few buckets
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.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
Apple DraftKings Pick6 App
Google DraftKings Pick6 App
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.
