We’ll have a short five game slate tonight heading into the weekend tipping off at 7 PM EST with what would have been a huge clash between the first seeded Detroit Pistons and the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers, but neither James Harden nor Donovan Mitchell will suit up for this game.
We’ll also get the Nets visiting the Celtics, the Knicks visiting the Bucks, the Grizzlies visiting the Mavericks, and the Nuggets visiting the Thunder.
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.
Nikola Jokic More Than 12.5 Rebounds
Jokic is averaging 12.5 RPG this season and is putting up his second-highest RPG per 36 minutes of his entire career, with 13.2 RPG trailing only 2021-2022’s 14.8 RPG, the season in which he won one of his three MVP awards. His rebounding ceiling is giant and he’s pulled down as many as 20 rebounds recently.
One of OKC’s few weaknesses is in cleaning the glass. On the season, they’re averaging just 54.9 RPG, which is the sixth lowest rate in the NBA. They don’t have anybody with the size to bother Jokic in the post, and I’m expecting him to grab way more than his 12.5 line tonight.
Jalen Brunson More Than 25.5 Points
Brunson’s been a bit cold lately, having only cracked 21 points once in his last four games, which isn’t the most reassuring trend.
Despite his form, the heavy volume is still there. Brunson’s taken 19 shots in each of his last two and is an expert at drawing fouls. He’ll look to get his feet back under him tonight and should be able to cross this threshold against Milwaukee, which boasts a 116.5 DEFRTG on the season. They’ve been playing well lately, but without Giannis Antetokounmpo, will still need help to contain him.
Christian Braun Less Than 11.5 Points
Christian Braun’s averaging 10 PPG on the season and is still looking to get back to form. He put up 15.4 PPG last season while appearing in 79 games so we know he’s capable of playing a complementary role next to Jokic in hitting open threes and cutting aggressively. His skillset meshes well with Jokic, who excels in finding open windows for easy baskets.
Braun will have his work cut out for him tonight against OKC’s defense, which is posting 106.4 DEFRTG on the season, by far the best mark in the NBA. He’ll get a bit more work tonight if Jamal Murray is out, but the Thunder’s elite rim protection and paint denial will make things tough for Braun.
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!
