What a way to open the season. The Rockets and the Thunder clashed in a double OT thriller that culminated in a one-point victory for the Thunder. It wasn’t the prettiest basketball the whole way through, but both teams made a strong case for why they belong atop the mountain of the West.
The Warriors’ tilt with the Lakers was far less competitive and featured a signature Luka Doncic carry job alongside an L. Tonight we’ll have a gigantic 12-game slate on our hands, which means plenty of opportunities to see how things unfold after a long offseason.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for the October 21st slate. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for tonight’s action.
Trae Young More than 9.5 Assists
The Hawks have finally put together a true, cohesive roster around centerpiece playmaker Trae Young. Dyson Daniels has emerged as a lethal defensive presence to complement Young’s inadequacies as a defender in the back court, which is something that Atlanta tried before with Dejounte Murray. The difference is that Daniels doesn’t need the ball in his hands nearly as often to be effective.
They’ve also acquired Kristaps Porzingis as an elite, albeit unreliable (availability-wise) rim protector and have two promising wings in their starting lineup. Jalen Johnson is expected to take another step forward this season and enter All-Star territory, a land in which he was on course for last season before injuring his shoulder.
All of which is to say, Trae should have no problem getting more than 9.5 assists tonight. He led the league with an impressive 11.6 last season, and with more weapons at his disposal this season, we could see him capture the assists crown once again.
Anthony Davis More Than 22.5 Points
The Mavs will be without star point guard Kyrie Irving for most, if not all of this season. That leaves tons of shots up for grabs. Davis averaged 24.7 PPG last season en route to an All-Star appearance, and this point total feels too low for him tonight.
I can see this line getting dragged down due to Davis’ matchup with Victor Wembanyama, but Davis is more than capable of getting more than 22.5 tonight despite the difficult matchup. Additionally, Davis only played 9 games with Dallas last season and averaged 20 PPG. I understand some reservations about him scoring-wise, but after a full offseason, it seems probable that Davis is now more than accustomed to his new roster and should be a focal point of the Mavs’ offense.
Rudy Gobert More Than 20.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
I’m having trouble visualizing Gobert getting less than 20.5 PRA in this spot tonight against a woeful Trailblazers squad. Last season, the Blazers ranked 21st in team defense and while they did have above-average results in limiting opponent points in the paint, which is where Gobert will be all night, it’s easy to see Gobert crack this number.
Gobert averaged 12 PPG alongside 10.9 RPG last year. We’re starting to see Rudy’s numbers taper off a bit from his glory days on the Jazz, but he’s still an elite rebounder and more than capable of muscling his way to 10 points.
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!
