Happy MLK Day! We’ve got a nine game NBA slate tonight, starting a bit early with the Bucks visiting the Hawks at 1 PM EST. There will be games all afternoon, stretching all the way until the Heat visit the Warriors at 10 PM EST.
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.
Stephen Curry More than 27.5 Points
Curry continues to function as the engine of Golden State’s offense and is averaging 28.1 PPG on the season. The volume is the constant here. Even on nights when efficiency comes and goes, the Warriors’ offensive structure ensures he keeps letting it fly, especially from three.
Recent results back that up. Over his last five games, Curry has lived in this range with multiple clears, including a 30-plus outing, while rarely slipping far below his season baseline when his minutes hold. That’s the benefit of his shot diet and green light: he doesn’t need a perfect shooting night to get to big scoring nights.
Miami is well-coached defensively by Erik Spoelstra, but they’re more comfortable contesting than eliminating perimeter volume. That tradeoff tends to favor a shooter with Curry’s range and off-ball movement. As long as Golden State keeps the offense flowing through him, Curry’s liable to cook on any given night.
James Harden More Than 29.5 Points
Harden is averaging 25.8 PPG this season so this 29.5 mark will be a stretch, but Kawhi Leonard is out. This means that Harden’s offensive responsibility nudges him back into the heliocentric playstyle he used to employ in Houston.
The recent scoring distribution reflects that change. In his last handful of games, Harden has pushed into the high-20s and low-30s multiple times as his shot volume ticks up. The separator has been free throws. When he’s aggressive downhill and defenders are forced to react, those points add up quickly.
Washington doesn’t offer much resistance at the point of attack, and they’ve struggled to disrupt ball-dominant guards in the half court. If the Clippers need Harden to steady things — and they usually do in this type of spot — the path past 29.5 is there. Washington is the 29th rated defense in the league and Harden should take full advantage of that tonight.
Norman Powell Less Than 23.5 Points
Powell is averaging 23.8 PPG this season, which places this line almost directly on top of his average. That alone makes it a tough clear on a nightly basis, especially given that his scoring profile leans much more on shooting efficiency than on guaranteed volume.
Recent results underline that point. Over his last handful of games, Powell has bounced between efficient performances and quieter nights. The margin is thin. When the jumper isn’t falling at an above-average clip, it doesn’t take much for him to come up short of this number.
The matchup tonight adds another layer of resistance. Golden State has multiple defenders capable of staying attached on the perimeter, including Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, both of whom are strong laterally and disciplined about cutting off driving angles. Powell does his best work when he can create separation or step into clean looks from deep, and those opportunities are harder to come by against defenders who can both move their feet and recover.
With other scoring options involved and the line essentially asking Powell to hit the upper end of his distribution, the case leans toward the under.
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!
