We’ll be taking a break from all the NBA Cup action tonight. On December 10th the NBA wrapped up its Western quarterfinals in exciting fashion as the Thunder eviscerated the Suns in a 49 point victory, while the Lakers fell to the Spurs by 13 points.
There will be four games tonight, with the best game featuring James Harden returning to Toyota Center.
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 tonight’s slate. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my favorite plays for tonight’s action.
James Harden Less than 23.5 Points
Harden is having a renaissance season, putting up 26.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 8.3 APG. He hasn’t touched this level of scoring since his last All-NBA season in 2019-2020, during which he finished third in MVP voting and led the league in scoring with 34.3 PPG.
Despite his current form, it’s challenging to envision him going off tonight. The Rockets’ defense is ranked second in the NBA and will be sure to prioritize Harden on the defensive end. Amen Thompson is an elite defender that should be Harden’s primary matchup tonight; a nightmare scenario for any guard in the NBA, even one as distinguished as Harden is.
Alperen Sengun More Than 21.5 Points
Sengun is coming back from a pair of absences due to illness, but tonight he’ll get a juicy matchup against the Clippers who boast one of the worst defenses in the league. He’s eclipsed 25 points in three straight games and is averaging 23.1 PPG on the season. Sengun should have no problem scoring more than 21.5 tonight.
Amen Thompson More Than 16.5 Points
There were lofty expectations for Amen Thompson entering his third NBA season, but the offensive leap we’ve been waiting for hasn’t come yet. Thompson is putting up 17.4 PPG, 3.2 more than his previous season output, but that’s due to his volume of shots, and not because of his evolution as a scorer. His efficiency has actually dropped this year. It seems he’s not suited to play PG, a position he was forced into due to Fred VanVleet’s injury, but he’s still learning its intricacies, according to Ime Udoka.
The caveat is that his free throw shooting looks improved. He’s sitting at 80% FT on the season, which is a vast improvement from his previous two seasons of averaging 68.4%, with higher volume this year to boot.
Despite Thompson’s lack of growth on the offensive end, I still expect him to put up more than 16.5 tonight against the Clippers’ turnstile defense. The Clippers will be more focused on Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, and Thompson’s physicality could easily overwhelm the perimeter defense that the Clippers can field.
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!
