We have just three games on our slate tonight before we get into All-Star weekend. With things winding down before we take a break, it’s a good time to check the standings. The Pistons are still the first seed in the East, now leading the Celtics by 5.5 games. The Knicks trail closely behind, while the Cavaliers have climbed up to the fourth seed having gone 9-1 in their last 10 games. They’re quietly on a roll with the longest win streak in the East with five wins, fueled by their recent James Harden acquisition.
In the West, the Thunder hold the top spot by only 3.5 games ahead of the Spurs, who are quickly gaining ground. The Spurs have now won six straight and could be a serious threat to take the first seed while OKC waits for Shai to return. The Nuggets and Rockets follow closely behind. The Sacramento Kings have lost 14 straight and are at the bottom of the West. The Kings hold the worst record in the league, and currently are on the longest losing streak.
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.
LeBron James Less Than 23.5 Points
LeBron will presumably return to action tonight after getting a game off against the Spurs. In fact, the Lakers rested most of their starters in that contest and predictably, the Spurs ran them out of the gym.
James’ scoring path is usually cleanest when he’s going downhill and forcing pressure near the rim. He uses that pressure to draw defenders away from their assignment, either finding passes to open shooters or opportunistic cutters. If he doesn’t find anything, he’ll bruise defenders for free throws. It’s been one of his main strengths as a player for a long time now. But tonight’s matchup won’t make that easy. Dallas has done a good job of not conceding free throws. They’re allowing the ninth lowest free throw trips with 22.3 per game.
And James hasn’t been a prolific scorer recently, at least not to the extent we’re used to. He’s averaging “only” 20.1 PPG in his last 10 games. The Mavs will put up a respectable defense as they have all season with a 113.3 DEFRTG, and even though they’ll be without Cooper Flagg, they should still be able to limit James somewhat, alongside Father Time.
Aaron Wiggins Less Than 17.5 Points
17.5 points is a high expectation for Wiggins tonight, who understandably should get an elevated role stepping up for Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Williams has not been ruled out, but due to his injuries this season as well as tonight’s game being the second end of a back to back, it’s reasonable to anticipate him sitting out.
Wiggins has eclipsed 17.5 points just once in his last five games and is averaging 10.7 PPG on the season. Milwaukee does allow a lot of opponent 3PA (39.0 per game), so you can absolutely get random big performances against them, but Wiggins hasn’t displayed consistent offense for us to have faith in him crossing over his 17.5 mark tonight.
Deni Avdija More Than 22.5 Points
Ah, here we go. There’s an All-Star playing against the Utah Jazz, it’s time to go big. I don’t even need to go in-depth about what Avdija’s managed to do this season, his All-Star nod is testament to that. His matchup tonight is by far the softest in the NBA, posting a staggering 120.9 DEFRTG on the season. They’re allowing 58.5% shooting on opponent 2-pointers, which is also the worst in the NBA. They’re playing 106.4 possessions per game, which is the second fastest in the NBA. The formula is simple: bad defense + high pace = lots of production, especially for good players.
Avdija is averaging 25.2 PPG and does most of his damage inside the three-point line.
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!
