The Emirates NBA Cup concluded yesterday as the New York Knicks took down the San Antonio Spurs in Vegas. Today we’ll get back to regularly scheduled programming with a two game NBA slate.
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.
Donovan Mitchell More than 30.5 Points
Mitchell’s been scorching hot this season. He’s going at a career-high pace of 30.7 PPG while leading the league in threes per game with four. He’s shooting a hair under 50% from the field and looks to be in All-NBA form as he drags this Cavs team to the playoffs.
Tonight he’ll have a soft matchup against the Bulls’ defense, which ranks 24th across the NBA. He’s eclipsed 30.5 just twice in his last five games, but one of them includes a sensational 48 point performance with eight triples in a win against the hapless Wizards.
Jaren Jackson Jr. Less Than 19.5 Points
I look around cautiously. I scan the bushes. I squint beyond my reflection in nearby windows. I check under my shoes, all before asking myself, is he…is he back?
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been having the season from hell. Literally every single stat, including personal fouls, is down from last season. The only nuances are that his turnovers are also down by .1, and his 2P% is up by half a percentage point. He burst out of his slump last game against the 26th defense in the league, the LA Clippers, by dropping a magnificent 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field alongside two steals and five blocks, an outrageous stat line for sore eyes.
While it is nice to root for the former DPOY returning to form, I’m not expecting his offense to continue like this tonight. Unlike the Clippers, the Wolves have a top 10 defense in the league, and have the personnel and length to bother Jackson Jr. on the perimeter and within the paint. So, no, I don’t believe he’s back just yet.
Nikola Vucevic Less Than 14.5 Points
Vuc has been quiet this season, posting his lowest PPG average at age 35 since 2016-2017. He’s putting up 15.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 3.4 APG. He’s a far cry from his ceiling of an All-Star level center, but he’s been an above average piece for the Bulls in these past few years. Vuc never been one for defensive presence, and it’s possible his inadequacy on defense is why the Bulls have a bad defense, as they are third to last in opponent points in the paint.
On offense I’m not expecting much tonight from the former All-Star tonight. While the Cavs are missing Mobley, they’ll still have Jarrett Allen to contend with in the restricted area.
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!
