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 avoid elimination vs. the Pacers. Later, Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets head to Oklahoma CIty for a pivotal Game 5 against the Thunder. There’s several ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s games!
Darius Garland more than 18.5 points
It’s do-or-die time for the Cavaliers, who suffered a deflating 129-109 loss on Monday. If Cleveland has any hope of extending this series, it’ll take several other names stepping up with Donovan Mitchell injured. Although the shooting guard is considered a game-time decision, it’s difficult to imagine Spida at 100% tonight. Fortunately for the Cavs, Darius Garland is more than capable of running this offense. Despite dealing with a toe ailment, the 25-year-old dropped 21 points in 27 minutes during Game 4.
Garland has done well in this matchup as of late. Over his previous five outings vs. Indiana, the two-time All-Star has averaged 18.2 points in just 28.9 minutes of play. With Cleveland’s season hanging in the balance, head coach Kenny Atkinson will likely leave his starters in longer than usual. That’s ideal for Garland, who can sometimes get lost in the shuffle when Mitchell is on a hot streak. The Cavs should lean on their leading ball handler tonight in what could be another high-octane shootout.
Myles Turner more than 6.5 rebounds
Myles Turner might not be the most talented player on the Pacers, but he may be their most consistent. This postseason, the center has recorded at least 15 points in seven of his nine contests. During that time, he’s also tallied a handful of 4+ block performances. The tenth-year pro has made his mark in the NBA as a modern stretch-five, capable of hitting threes and swatting shots. His floor spacing has made things more difficult for a Cavaliers squad that loves to protect the paint.
Turner, for all his positives, isn’t exactly dominant on the glass. The 6’11” veteran averaged a just-ok 6.5 rebounds per game this season. That’s carried over into the playoffs, where the 29-year-old has snagged more than five boards in only four of his appearances. However, three of those outings have come during this series vs. Cleveland. Excluding a 13-minute showing in April, Turner has notched seven or more rebounds in five of his previous seven meetings against the Cavs. Indiana’s underrated center should make an impact on both ends of the floor tonight.
Bennedict Mathurin more than 11.5 points
A major reason the Pacers have surged to a 3-1 series lead is due to their depth. Head coach Rick Carlisle is comfortable running a ten (or even 11) man rotation, wearing out opponents with a rapid-fire pace. Surprisingly, Indiana won Game 4 comfortably without one of its best bench pieces, Bennedict Mathurin. The wing was ejected in the first quarter of Monday’s contest after hitting Cleveland’s Deandre Hunter. When active, the Arizona alum is a true difference maker. This season, he posted 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field.
Indy’s talented backup is your classic ‘microwave scorer’, capable of heating up at any given moment. During his first three games vs. Cleveland, the forward generated 53 total points (17.7 PPG). In fact, the 22-year-old has had notable success in this spot before. In nine of 12 career outings against the Cavs (not counting Monday), Mathurin has scored at least 12 points. Barring another untimely exit tonight, he should reach that mark once more.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more than 1.5 steals
At this point, even the most casual NBA fans have an appreciation for just how good Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is. The MVP candidate is a true jack of all trades, capable of filling up a stat sheet in a hurry. This regular season, the Canadian recorded 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 51.9% from the field. Those prolific numbers on offense often overshadow SGA’s defensive prowess. The guard was one of just nine players to average at least 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s ball-hawking skills have already made a big difference in this series. One of the biggest flaws for the Nuggets is their ball handling; Denver’s 15.1 turnovers per game this postseason is the worst mark of any remaining team. During his last four outings, SGA has notched 2+ steals three different times. The only time the All-Star didn’t reach this mark, OKC kept him on the bench early due to a 40-point victory. Thunder fans should expect a dominant showing on both ends of the floor from their leading man tonight.
Aaron Gordon more than 22.5 points + rebounds
No non-star has had a bigger impact on this postseason than Aaron Gordon. Denver’s do-it-all forward has already produced two different game-winners, most recently nailing a three-pointer in Game 1 vs. OKC. He’s also been a menace on the glass in the playoffs, hauling in 7.5 boards per game. For a Nuggets squad that has difficulty finding production outside of Nikola Jokic, AG has been a true life-saver. In Game 4, the 29-year-old compiled 15 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.
At this point, it’s clear that Denver’s power forward has the ‘clutch gene’; in fact, this entire roster does. In what feels like a must-win for the Nuggets, they’ll need another double-double quality performance on Tuesday. Over his previous seven meetings of 20+ minutes vs. the Thunder, Gordon has logged at least 23 points + rebounds. It helps that Oklahoma City has allowed 54.3 rebounds per game to opponents, the third-worst mark in basketball. Having played 38 or more minutes in all but one game this series, Gordon is poised for another terrific outing tonight.
Russell Westbrook more than 17.5 points + rebounds + assists
Entering the Western Conference semifinals, Russell Westbrook was one of basketball’s biggest wildcards. On any given night, the guard is capable of doing something spectacular and head-scratching…sometimes on the same play. Still, at his best the future Hall of Famer is a one-man wrecking ball, giving Denver instant energy. In Games 1 and 2 on the road, Russ put up a combined 37 points. However, that number dwindled to just 14 points in Games 3 and 4.
Once a triple-double machine, Westbrook hasn’t been filling up the stat sheet this series. During his last four outings, the veteran has failed to notch more than five assists or three rebounds. However, there’s a good chance the former MVP gets back on track tonight. A return to Oklahoma City should bring out the best in Westbrook, arguably the best player in franchise history. During his four games in OKC this season, Russ has averaged 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Those numbers, while not eye-popping, offer a baseline for Game 5. Even a marginal boost in touches should allow Denver’s sixth man to deliver another well-rounded performance.
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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
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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