The NBA playoffs continue with four marquee matchups on Tuesday. After losing Damian Lillard to a torn achilles, the Bucks will hope to keep their season alive vs. Indiana. Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will attempt to eliminate the Pistons at Madison Square Garden. The defending champion Celtics will hope to do the same against a scrappy Magic squad. As a nightcap, the best series of the postseason continues when the Clippers and Nuggets meet in Game 5.
There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s contests!
Kevin Porter Jr. more than 4.5 rebounds
As previously mentioned, Damian Lillard’s season is over. In his absence, the Bucks will be forced to rely on less-than-stellar back court depth. If anyone on Milwaukee’s bench is able to step up, its Kevin Porter Jr. The former Rockets standout has bounced around the league due to off-court issues. However, his talent has never been in question. This season, KPJ has put up 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Lillard, one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, can’t be replaced by one player. Porter Jr., while capable of draining some buckets, isn’t the same kind of threat from beyond the arc. Regardless, the guard can leave his mark on this game without dropping 30 points. If the Pacers have any notable flaw, it’s a failure to box out. Indiana has allowed 52.9 rebounds per game to opponents this season, tenth-most in basketball. In four of his last six games played without Lillard, Porter Jr. has grabbed at least five boards. Keeping that in mind, Milwaukee’s newest starter is set up for a productive evening on the glass.
OG Anunoby more than 15.5 points
Thanks to the late-game heroics of Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks hold a 3-1 series lead over Detroit. However, New York won Game 4 despite an awful day on offense from OG Anunoby. The wing has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top perimeter defenders. Still, his production on the other end of the floor can be inconsistent. On Sunday, he scored just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting. Through four games this postseason, Anunoby has connected on just 37.9% of his field goal attempts.
It can be difficult to trust the 27-year-old, but he should have more success tonight at Madison Square Garden. This series, Anunoby has averaged 15.8 points on 42.1 minutes per game. It helps that the veteran has scored at least 17 points in four of his previous seven meetings with the Pistons. On defense, Detroit will do everything in its power to get the ball out of Brunson’s hands. In that regard, the biggest beneficiary will be Anunoby. The forward is worth the gamble for fantasy managers ahead of Tuesday’s contest.
Corey Joseph more than 5.5 points
Facing elimination, it’s all hands on deck for the Magic tonight against the Celtics. This postseason, head coach Jamahl Mosley has gotten creative with his rotations. That’s included starting guard Corey Joseph in four straight games. The 14-year veteran rarely stuffs the stat sheet, often playing only a handful of minutes per game. However, his 6’2″, 200 lb. frame has been a thorn in Boston’s side as a defender.
Obviously, with more minutes comes more opportunities to put up points. That’s true even for an offensively-limited player such as Joseph. The 33-year-old has scored at least six points in each of his last three appearances. During that time, he’s also logged at least 23 minutes on the floor. The Magic are heavily reliant on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. After that, their depth chart becomes quite thin. All it’ll take is a few good looks for Joseph to deliver on this low point total.
Paolo Banchero less than 42.5 points + rebounds + assists
We’ll stay in Beantown, where the Celtics will try to complete a gentleman’s sweep over the Magic. If anyone can prevent Orlando’s elimination, it’s Paolo Banchero. The former All-Star has been on fire, hitting shots seemingly at will in an otherwise low-scoring series. Through four games, the 22-year-old is averaging 32.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 44.0% shooting.
If not for his teammates coming up short, we may be discussing this series as Banchero’s coming out party. Regardless, the power forward has proven he can take his game to another level in the postseason. Unfortunately for the Magic, their budding superstar can’t do everything. In seven of his last ten games vs. the Celtics, Paolo has recorded less than 43 points + rebounds + assists. That includes his previous two outings in Games 3 and 4. Orlando’s face of the franchise could enjoy another big game tonight, but his team’s lack of talent on offense makes an all-around performance unlikely.
Ivica Zubac less than 12.5 rebounds
The only 2-2 series in basketball will head back to Denver on Tuesday. If the Nuggets are going to take this decisive Game 5, getting an edge on the glass could go a long way. That means keeping Clippers center Ivica Zubac in check. This season, the Bosnian has averaged 12.6 boards per game, fourth-most in the NBA. Combined with his 16.8 points, the seven-footer has emerged as one of the sport’s top double-double threats.
While flawed, the Nuggets still do a few things well on the court (other than scoring). This season, they’ve allowed 49.6 rebounds per game to opponents, the second-lowest mark in basketball. Over his last five meetings with Denver, Zubac has recorded more than 12 rebounds only once. Clearly, Nikola Jokic and company have done a solid job at boxing out the big man. Look for that trend to continue tonight in what could be another low-scoring slugfest.
Norman Powell more than 16.5 points
Everyone knows the Clippers are a two-man show; together, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden form an elite duo. That doesn’t mean Los Angeles lacks secondary scorers to take pressure off of its superstars. Since Leonard’s season debut in January, Norman Powell has seen his role on offense diminish. Still, the sharpshooter managed to turn in a career-best campaign. Through 60 games, he produced 21.8 points on 48.4% shooting from the field (41.8 3PT%).
Los Angeles’ third option has been on fire recently, notching a combined 42 points during his last two appearances. It helps that the Nuggets are allowing the seventh-most points per game to opponents this season (117.5). In five of his previous eight contests vs. Denver, Powell has reached at least 17 points. Assuming the defense keys in on stopping Leonard and Harden, there will be open looks from deep tonight. That’s where a marksman such as Powell can rack up points in a hurry.
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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