The NBA season is winding down with the slate slimming on nearly a nightly basis. The Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves have each punched their tickets to the Conference Finals and are awaiting the winner of the other two series.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets will face off in a Game 7 to decide the Timberwolves’ challenger. In the Eastern Conference, the defending champion Boston Celtics will be looking to force the same fate by extending the series against the Knicks tonight. New York took a commanding 3-1 series lead before Boston produced a commanding win in the previous game, and the series will return to Madison Square Garden.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays on Friday, May 16. You simply choose whether each statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my favorite picks for the Game 6 matchup between the Celtics and Knicks.
Derrick White More Than 4.5 Made Three-Pointers
Since he arrived in Boston, Derrick White has been the connective tissue necessary to their winning brand of basketball. The 30-year-old is capable of filling whatever role is necessary and will be expected to scale up his offensive role with Jayson Tatum sidelined. White came out firing in Game 5, knocking down four three-pointers in the opening quarter with 14 total points. He finished the victory with a team-high 34 points while shooting 7-for-13 from beyond the three-point arc.
While the output was impressive, it is not much out of the norm for White. He has shot 24-for-57 (42.1%) from beyond the three-point arc in this series, averaging 22.6 points and making 4.8 three-pointers per game. White has tallied more than 4.5 made three-pointers in three games this series and has not been held to fewer than three made three-pointers overall. He has attempted at least 11 three-pointers in every game, except for Game 3, where he shot 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The loss of Jayson Tatum changes this Celtics team in a major way, but don’t expect Boston to abandon its identity as a high-volume three-point shooting team. The Celtics broke a variety of NBA three-point records in the regular season, with White attempting a career-high 9.1 perimeter attempts and connecting at a 38.4% rate. White has also seen his usage rate jump from 19.9% with Tatum to 23.4% without him in the regular season. He is posting a 24.7% usage rate in the playoffs, with this number spiking by 1.5% following the loss of their superstar. Boston will need White to continue delivering offense and will have free reign to do so tonight. Look for him to make the most of his expanded offensive opportunities and connect with more than 4.5 three-pointers for the third straight game.
Jalen Brunson More Than 36.5 Points & Assists
With Jayson Tatum sidelined, there should be no question about Jalen Brunson being the best player on the floor in this series. The Knicks star is coming off a rare disappointing postseason performance in which he fouled out with 7:19 remaining and was limited to 22 points, six assists, and a rebound. Looking at the series as a whole, Brunson is averaging 26.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 29.4 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds across the playoffs overall.
Brunson also has a strong track record of bouncing back after losses. Following a playoff loss in his career, the Villanova product averages 30.4 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. There is sure to be a spirited atmosphere in Madison Square Garden, and Brunson has proven to be at his best when the lights are the brightest. In addition, New York has gotten variable outputs from the rest of the supporting cast. Karl-Anthony Towns has not been utilized enough, and both OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been all over the place with their production. Both players have had games with 20+ points while also being held to single-digit scoring outputs in five combined games.
Brunson has recorded more than 36.5 combined points and assists in six of the 10 playoff games thus far. This will be the biggest moment New York has had, with them holding a chance to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Count on the Knicks to lean on what got them there, and for Brunson to be at the epicenter of the Knicks’ production. Count on him to tally more than 36.5 combined points and assists in this crucial matchup and be ready to meet the moment tonight.
Luke Kornet More Than 6.5 Rebounds
The Celtics have struggled to get proper production from the big man position across this playoff run. Kristaps Porzingis was held out of the second half in the previous game; Joe Muzzulla told reporters that Porzingis was having trouble breathing. Porzingis has been notably bothered by the viral issue that has plagued him in the second half of the season and has not looked remotely close to the best version of himself. He is shooting just 23.8% from the floor and 14.3% from beyond the three-point arc in the series, averaging just 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Al Horford is showing his age, and Jayson Tatum was logging minutes at the center spot before his injury.
Enter Luke Kornet, who was among the biggest factors in the Game 5 victory. The fan-favorite big man clocked 25:38 of game action and produced 10 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks while finishing a +20 in the matchup. Kornet swung the momentum of the game and should be in line for a similar role tonight.
While his importance was clear in the previous game, Kornet has been an impact player all season for Boston. Across his 18.6 minutes per game in the regular season, the 29-year-old averaged 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Kornet knows exactly who he is as a basketball player and is comfortable playing within his role. Expect Mazzulla to call Kornet’s number at a higher rate with him as the best counter to combat Mitchell Robinson’s minutes on the floor. His primary focus will be on rebounding the basketball, and he has tallied more than 6.5 rebounds in 24 regular-season games this season. Count on the 7-footer to make his presence felt in this game and tally more than 6.5 rebounds in this Game 6 matchup.
Mikal Bridges Less Than 14.5 Points
The Knicks took a big swing trading for Mikal Bridges this offseason for a steep price tag. He was brought in with this matchup against the Celtics in mind, but it has been a mixed bag of results to this point. Bruidges is averaging 14.8 points per game in the postseason and 13.2 points per game in this series. The Villanova product is shooting just 39.5% from the floor and 25.0% from beyond the three-point arc against this Celtics defense.
Bridges has had his highs, such as his 23-point performance in Game 4. But this is the only time he has tallied more than 14.5 points in a game in this series. He is coming off a nine-point performance in the previous game and had just eight points in the series opener. Bridges has a unique shot form with a high release point and prefers to shoot in a slight fadeaway motion. This makes it difficult to bother from a defensive standpoint, but Derrick White has found a way to time this as the series has progressed.
New York does not run a ton of offense for Bridges, with his usage rate dropping from 19.6% in the regular season to 18.1% in the playoffs. He will have his flashes, but there is not enough consistent offense put on Bridges’ shoulders, and he has not capitalized on his opportunities to this point. Spot-up shooting opportunities will make or break his chances, but don’t expect there to be enough shot volume for Bridges to reach this number. Count on the offense funneling through Jalen Brunson and for Bridges to be held to less than 14.5 points for the fifth time in this series.
Jrue Holiday More Than 3.5 Assists
Another player who saw his role change following the loss of Jayson Tatum is Jrue Holiday. The 34-year-old will be asked to take on some more on-ball responsibility and be counted on as a playmaker at a more significant rate. Across the playoffs thus far, Holiday is averaging 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds.
This comes after a regular season in which Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He tallied more than 3.5 assists in 33 of the 62 regular-season games and has reached this number in four of the seven playoff games he has been active for. Holiday has seen his role shift as his career progressed, but there was a time when he served as a true point guard and primary decision-maker within an offense. He still possesses these instincts and will be called on to tap into them more tonight.
Boston ran some unique sets playing through Holiday out of the post in the previous game and should be looking to lean on this again. This has been an action they utilized in the regular season, and will be seen at a higher rate based on the injuries the team is dealing with. Holiday is among the smartest players in the NBA and can capitalize on whatever playmaking opportunities he receives. 3.5 is too low a number based on his track record this season and in his career. With a larger role in the offense available following Tatum’s injury, look for Holiday to record more than 3.5 assists as the Celtics fight desperately to keep their season alive.
Josh Hart More Than 1.5 Made Three-Pointers
Josh Hart also fits the category of players who are at their best when the lights are the brightest. Not known for his three-point shooting, Hart has been able to connect at a greater rate from beyond the three-point arc in two consecutive postseasons. For his career, he is a 34.2% three-point shooter and has shot just 32.2% of his three-point attempts across his past two seasons with the Knicks. However, he shot 37.3% from beyond the three-point arc last postseason and is shooting 42.5% so far in this playoff run while seeing increased volume in both seasons.
Hart connected on five made three-pointers in the previous game, shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. Boston is disinterested in guarding him from deep, and these shots will be available for him again tonight. Hart has attempted at least three three-pointers in every game this series. Expect this to be an area of the matchup the Celtics are more than willing to sacrifice, and for Hart to be ready to step up and make them pay.
While most of the attention goes to the Celtics’ offensive impact in regards to the three-point line, they lead the playoffs in opponents’ three-point percentage, with teams shooting just 30.7% against them. Orlando’s struggles from deep helped this number, but the Celtics do a great job chasing opponents off the three-point line and making looks difficult to come by. Hart will be an exception to this and continue to see plenty of time and space for his perimeter looks. If anything, the Celtics will be willing to funnel the ball to him on the perimeter, with Hart being the worst three-point shooter on the floor. Count on him to be ready to step to center stage and knock down more than 1.5 made three-pointers for the third game in this series, as he feeds off the Madison Square Garden environment.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether 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 cannot pick the same player twice and you must select 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!
