The NBA regular season is over, but there’s still some business to take care of before the postseason begins. Two play-in tournament games are on tap for Tuesday, determining which teams will play in Friday’s do-or-die matchup. First, divisional rivals will meet in Orlando when the Hawks visit the Magic. Later, Ja Morant’s Grizzlies are set to face Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s contests!
Franz Wagner more than 6.5 rebounds
The first game of the night presents an intriguing matchup of polar opposites. Atlanta plays an up-tempo, score-first style of basketball, led by point guard Trae Young. Orlando prefers to grind out wins, allowing the second-fewest points per game in basketball (103.5). In short, something has to give on Tuesday. If the Magic are going to keep up, they’ll need a big game from Franz Wagner. The German emerged as a borderline star this season, averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
For all of Wagner’s skill as a scorer, he’s underrated on the glass. That should come in handy against a Hawks team missing several big bodies, including Clint Capela (hand) and Jalen Johnson (shoulder). Orlando’s young forward has snagged at least seven rebounds in five of his previous six games vs. Atlanta. The 23-year-old is slightly undervalued at just 6.5 rebounds tonight.
Dyson Daniels less than 6.5 rebounds
Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of the NBA’s biggest breakouts, emerging as Atlanta’s second-best player. The 22-year-old, dealt this summer as part of the Dejounte Murray trade, has finally been given a starting role. Through 76 games, the guard has put up 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Combined with elite ball-hawking skills (3.0 steals per game), the Great Barrier Thief is a true all-around threat.
Even with a consistent workload, the Australian will have his hands full on Tuesday. The Magic are a stingy defensive unit, holding opponents to the second-fewest points per game (103.5). They also excel on the glass, limiting teams to just 51.0 rebounds per game, sixth-fewest in basketball. Daniels has recorded less than seven boards in four of his last five meetings with Orlando. There’s a good chance that trend continues tonight.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope more than 1.5 three-pointers made
We’ll stay in Florida, where the Magic need their role players to step up. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has had a shaky first season with Orlando, averaging 8.7 points on 43.9% shooting from the field. However, the 32-year-old was signed this summer for these kinds of high-intensity matchups. Going back to his time in Denver and Los Angeles, the two-time champion is no stranger to a playoff(-esque) atmosphere.
It helps that KCP will get to face a group that can’t seem to guard the perimeter. Atlanta’s opponents have knocked down 14.3 three-pointers per game, sixth-most in the association. Teams have also shot 37.7% from long-distance vs. the Hawks, third-highest in the NBA. Orlando’s veteran sharpshooter should command a decent amount of minutes tonight; expect a vintage performance from beyond the arc.
Zach Edey more than 19.5 points + rebounds
The Grizzlies made a shocking decision to fire Taylor Jenkins less than three weeks ago. Since then, interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo has made a few notable changes. That includes giving more minutes to rookie Zach Edey. The 7’4 behemoth has enjoyed a solid first season in the NBA, posting 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.0% from the field. Over his last six games, the Canadian has played at least 28 minutes, an upgrade from his year-long average of 21.5.
As good as the Warriors have been recently, this is still a team that lacks height. There should be plenty of available rebounds on Tuesday, especially considering Memphis’ league-leading pace on offense (103.69). When these two squads last met on April 1st, Edey recorded ten points and 16 rebounds. The center has notched at least 20 points + rebounds in five of his last six outings. Another double-double is likelier than not in this pivotal Western Conference clash.
Jimmy Butler more than 22.5 points
A Warriors season spiraling towards mediocrity has been saved by February’s trade for Jimmy Butler. The veteran forward is an ideal co-star behind Stephen Curry, offering quality play on both ends of the floor. Since being traded from Miami, the 35-year-old has averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Butler has dropped at least 24 points in each of his last three appearances.
On their own, those numbers are good enough to consider backing Golden State’s newest star. That’s without factoring in Tuesday’s opponent, the Grizzlies, who allow the 12th-most points per game in basketball (114.1). When these teams last met on April 1st, Butler produced 27 points in 38 minutes. Since then, rookie Jaylen Wells suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Without one of their best wing defenders, the Grizzlies could have trouble slowing down an All-NBA talent tonight.
Jaren Jackson Jr. more than 20.5 points
Let’s wrap things up in The Bay, where the Grizzlies are attempting to pull off an upset. The only place where the visitors have a clear advantage over Golden State is down low. We’ve already discussed Zach Edey, so why not double down with Jaren Jackson Jr.? In a tumultuous season for co-star Ja Morant, JJJ has been the glue keeping Memphis together. Through 74 games, the big man has posted 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 48.8% from the field.
The former Defensive Player of the Year is known for his elite rim protection, and for good reason. Still, he’s developed into a dynamic scorer over seven seasons in the NBA. A small Warriors front court has usually had trouble slowing the 6’10 forward down. During five of his last six meetings with Golden State, Jackson Jr. has scored at least 22 points. Memphis’ two-way force could make his biggest impact on offense in this much-anticipated matchup.
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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.
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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.
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