Friday Night’s slate of games will mark the second night of NBA Cup action and is loaded with 12 different matchups.
The opening night of the Cup lived up to the hype with Steph Curry producing a signature performance against his former teammate Klay Thompson as the Warriors took down the Mavericks. While tonight’s slate lacks sentimental matchups of that magnitude, there are still plenty of intriguing games.
This includes the Miami Heat facing the Indiana Pacers without Jimmy Butler. The Lakers will play Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs following his career-high 50-point performance. In addition, the Nets will play the Knicks as Mikal Bridges squares off with his former team. The Cavaliers will look to remain undefeated against the Bulls, and the Thunder will be playing the Suns.
With night two of the added intensity of the NBA Cup and vibrant colors of the court, there are plenty of options for what to watch and even more opportunities to get involved in the action. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for Nov. 15. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for Monday night’s action.
Jalen Williams More Than 6.5 Rebounds
Injury issues are quickly becoming the story of this NBA season and the Oklahoma City Thunder are no exception. Most notably, they will be without Chet Holmgren for about the next two months as he recovers from his hip injury. This also occurs while Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Willaims remain out due to their respective injuries.
This has forced the Thunder to lean on some small-ball lineups with Jalen Williams being the most impacted by this. On the season overall, Williams has averaged 6.3 rebounds which is a notable uptick from the 4.0 and 4.2 rebounds per game he averaged the past two seasons. The Santa Clara product has recorded more than 6.5 rebounds in six of the 12 games.
As the Thunder prepare to face off with the Suns, expect Williams to continue to be heavily involved on the boards. Oklahoma City ranks 24th in rebounding as a team and will be looking to improve moving forward. Currently, Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic is listed as questionable and it would benefit the Thunder greatly if he is unable to go. Regardless, look for Williams to step up in the short term and record more than 6.5 rebounds for the seventh time this season as he serves as the primary center for stretches of this game.
Jalen Green More Than 2.5 Three-Pointers Made
The Houston Rockets will be facing off with the Los Angeles Clippers and looking to build off their 8-4 start to the season. Jalen Green has been a significant reason for this strong start. Through the opening 12 games, he has averaged 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. The former second-overall pick also has shot 9.2 three-point attempts per game and connected at a 34.5% rate.
The growth in the three-point rate has kept up with the trend around the rest of the NBA. The league is attempting long-range shots at an all-time high rate and Green has kept up with this trend. So far this season he has made more than 2.5 three-pointers in seven of the 12 games and has not attempted less than five three-pointers in any game this season.
While the Clippers have a solid perimeter defense, there is enough volume on the table for Green to reach this number. Expect Green to come out letting it fly as he faces off against the former Rockets superstar. These two teams also faced off on Wednesday with Green shooting 5-14 on three-point attempts. Expect the 22-year-old to continue to be eager in his shot attempts and knock down more than 2.5 triples for the eighth time this season.
James Harden More Than 30.5 Points & Assists
On the other side of the Jalen Green matchup will be James Harden. The former Rockets superstar still is showing to have some life in his legs and has gotten off to a strong start to the season. Overall he has averaged 20.7 points, 8.8 assists, and 8.2 rebounds per game. Harden is at the epicenter of everything the Clippers do offensively and currently ranks 18th in the NBA in usage rate among players with more than four games played.
Harden has recorded more than 30.5 combined points and assists in five of the 12 games thus far and still has room to grow as a playmaker. The 10-time All-Star has led the NBA in assists twice in his career and averaged an NBA-best 10.7 assists during the 2022-23 season. While his 8.8 assists per game still ranks fourth in the NBA, there is another level he is capable of reaching.
Expect Harden to look comfortable playing back in Houston and be at the epicenter of the Clippers’ offense. Harden was held to 26 combined points and assists in Wednesday’s matchup with the Rockets, but shot 6-15 from the field and had a few teammates unable to capitalize on shots created by Harden’s passing. Count on there being a better performance tonight and for Harden to record more than 30.5 points and assists.
Paul George More Than 20.5 Points
Paul George is set to suit up for the Philadelphia 76ers for the sixth time this season time and this matchup with the Orlando Magic will mark his second time sharing the floor with Joel Embiid. Tonight’s game will also mark the first time George is off of a minutes restriction. After sustaining a bone bruise in the preseason, George has averaged just 29.2 minutes per game and has not played more than 33:14 of game time yet this year.
The nine-time All-Star has averaged 33.6 minutes per game in his career and played 33.8 minutes per game last season, so he should see some expanded opportunity. Expect this to be George’s most extensive opportunity on the floor this year and for him to build off the 29-point performance he recorded in the first game that George and Embiid played together.
While Embiid did not look sharp in his debut, the improved spacing was clear due to the gravity the former MVP commanded. George had his best scoring performance in a Sixers uniform thus far in his first game alongside Embiid and that is no coincidence. He has averaged more than 20.5 points per game in 10 different seasons and is plenty capable as a scorer. Expect him to continue to build off this and record more than 20.5 points for the second consecutive game.
Devin Booker More Than 28.5 Points
The injury bug has been active surrounding the Phonix Suns. Kevin Durant remains sidelined with a calf issue while Bradley Beal joined the party and is suffering some calf soreness of his own. Both players are ruled out for the matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder while Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic hold a questionable status.
This puts more on the plate of Devin Booker as a scorer, as the Suns are without the 45.8 points per game that Durant and Beal have combined to average this year. Booker is off to a fairly strong start to the season himself and has produced 23.3 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. While Booker has only recorded more than 28.5 points three times this season, he will see an uptick in shot opportunities without his two co-stars.
It may not be the most efficient pathway to getting there, but expect Booker to shoot his way to more than 28.5 points in this game. Tyus Jones is the only other player on the Suns’ roster averaging more than 10 points per game and the team will be counting on Booker’s offensive output.
Kevin Huerter Less Than 2.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Sacramento Kings are set to face off with the Minnesota Timberwolves and will be looking to build off their 7-5 start to the season. Minnesota has a strong defense that ranks sixth in opponents’ points per game and is holding opponents to the seventh-worst three-point percentage. They are loaded with long, athletic guards who are effective on the perimeter. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels will headline this layer of defense.
So far this season Kevin Huerter has averaged 11.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He also is shooting just 33.9% from beyond the arc despite shooting 38.1% throughout his career. Huerter has been limited to less than 2.5 made three-pointers in seven of the 10 games he played this season. He also has gone three games in which he has not made any long-range shots, shooting a combined 0-11 from beyond the arc in these games.
While Huerter will settle in and increase this three-point effectiveness as the season progresses, this is a difficult matchup to do so. Don’t be surprised if Huerter sees his minutes reduced as Sacramento looks to match the Timberwolves’ defensive ability and count on him to produce less than 2.5 made three-pointers tonight.
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!
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
