Two NBA playoff games are on tap for Tuesday, with all four semifinals series underway across the association. The first contest of the night will take place in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers will hope to even things up with the Pacers. Later, Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves will host Stephen Curry and the Warriors for a Game 1 showdown. There’s several ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s games!
Pascal Siakam more than 6.5 rebounds
A 121-112 Pacers victory on Sunday was made possible due to the team’s impressive depth. Six different players on the roster scored in double-digits, led by point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Heading into Game 2, asking for another stellar shooting day from the entire roster isn’t realistic. To pull off a second-straight road win, Indiana will need its stars to step up. That includes Pascal Siakam, one of the sport’s best power forwards. The 31-year-old has struggled as a scorer recently, averaging 13.0 points over his last three outings.
Siakam is due for a bounce-back performance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean 20+ points. Instead, it makes more sense to back the All-Star as a rebounder on Tuesday. In five of his last six meetings with the Cavaliers, Siakam has recorded at least seven boards. Cleveland’s massive front court pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are a handful for anyone. However, the duo’s size should force Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle to keep his lineups as tall as possible. Expect another productive night on the glass for Indiana’s 6’8″ big man.
Ty Jerome more than 4.5 assists
What’s carried the Cavaliers to a 64-win season? It’s difficult to point to one leading factor, but Cleveland is the rare team that wields a ten-man rotation. Among the many role players that have stepped up, Ty Jerome stands out. Prior to this season, the sixth-year pro had bounced around the NBA, suiting up for four different squads. Now, he’s emerged as the leading sixth man on a legitimate title contender. Through 70 games, the guard put up 12.5 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 51.6% from the field.
Jerome’s sharpshooting usually gets the most attention, and for good reason. The Virginia alum shot 43.9% from deep this season. However, he’s also an underrated passer. There would be more assists to be had on the Cavaliers if not for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Still, the 27-year-old finds ways to keep his teammates involved. This postseason, Jerome has notched at least five assists in each of his last three appearances. That includes eight dimes in Game 1 vs. the Pacers on Sunday. Even if Garland (toe) returns, expect Cleveland’s backup ball handler to make some plays in Tuesday’s contest.
Anthony Edwards more than 3.5 three-pointers made
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves took down LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Now, they’ll attempt to knock out Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. If Minnesota wants to take down Golden State, it’s face of the franchise needs to be at his best. That’s been the case so far this postseason for the 23-year-old. In five games against the Lakers, Ant-Man posted 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting 42.0% from the field.
One area where Edwards could improve on is his three-point shooting. After making 39.5% of his attempts from deep during the regular season, that number has gone down to 33.3% in the playoffs. Still, the guard is taking nearly ten shots per game from beyond the arc. The Warriors are a solid defensive unit, especially on the perimeter. However, Edwards knocked down at least four treys in each of his four meetings with the Dubs this season. Given his history in this matchup, Minnesota’s leading man is poised for success as a shooter on Tuesday.
Jimmy Butler more than 34.5 points + rebounds
It took seven games, but the Warriors earned a series victory on Sunday vs. the Rockets. Now, the team will face a Timberwolves squad that can defend and score at a high level. The same can be said of Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s newest superstar. It’s been a fantastic few months in the Bay for the forward, acquired in February from Miami. Since trading for Butler, the Dubs have won 23 of their last 31 games. Despite an injury scare in round one, the veteran put up 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Game 7.
Butler, facing off against his old team, is built for what could be an intense, physical series. The 35-year-old’s postseason heroics are well-documented at this point, having carried the Heat to the Finals twice. Minnesota boasts plenty of high-end defenders, including wing Jaden McDaniels. Still, Butler managed to produce against an elite Rockets defense. In four of his six appearances in round one, the six-time All-Star recorded at least 35 points + rebounds + assists. At this point, go against the future Hall of Famer at your own risk.
Donte DiVincenzo more than 10.5 points
Unlike most of his teammates, Donte DiVincenzo had a tough series vs. the Lakers. Over five games, the guard averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting a dismal 30.0% from the field. It’s not what we’re used to seeing from the Big Ragu, who was automatic last postseason with the Knicks. Coming off the bench for the Timberwolves, DiVincenzo’s point totals hinge entirely on his efficiency. Fortunately for Minnesota, round two vs. the Warriors could be an ideal matchup for the 28-year-old.
While DiVincenzo didn’t shoot well, he did shoot a lot. The seventh-year pro took a combined 37 field goal attempts during his last three outings vs. Los Angeles. Keeping that in mind, it may take only a couple more buckets to get DDV to 11 points tonight. The Villanova alum has thrived in this spot before, putting up 28 and 19 points over his last two meetings with Golden State. Ultimately, it feels like Minnesota’s overqualified backup is due for a vintage scoring performance.
Draymond Green more than 4.5 assists
Whatever way one might feel about Draymond Green’s on-court antics, he remains a crucial piece for the Warriors. Most of the former Defensive Player of the Year’s contributions don’t show up in the stat sheet. However, he’s arguably Golden State’s best rebounder and its best passer. Over seven games vs. Houston, the power forward averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Those numbers, while not impressive, could see a boost in the semifinals vs. Minnesota.
The Timberwolves have one of basketball’s best defensive front courts, led by center Rudy Gobert. That will make scoring inside difficult, especially for an offensively limited player such as Green. Still, Draymond has shown an ability to make plays in this matchup. In seven of his last ten games vs. Minnesota, the big man has recorded at least five assists. The veteran should have plenty of success as a distributor on Tuesday night.
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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.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
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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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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.
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