There will be eight NBA games taking place tonight to kick off 2025. It has been a feisty stretch of basketball across the league with about 40% of the season completed. The rumor mill is swirling around the NBA with the unofficial start to trade season underway.
Looking at tonight’s matchups, the Orlando Magic will face the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards will host the Chicago Bulls at 7:00 p.m. ET. Three games will tip off a half hour later with the Nets playing the Raptors, the Heat hosting the Pelicans, and the Jazz facing the Knicks. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Dallas Mavericks will take on the Houston Rockets as they continue to be without Luka Doncic. An hour later the Denver Nuggets will host the Atlanta Hawks and then in the lone 10:00 p.m. ET matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Sacramento Kings.
While there will be busier days of NBA basketball moving forward, there are still several 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 January 1st. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for Wednesday night’s action.
Tyrese Maxey More Than 27.5 Points
The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Joel Embiid tonight as they face the Sacramento Kings. Embiid played the previous four games which marked his longest consecutive streak of games played this season. The Sixers have picked up some traction in recent weeks, winning 10 of their past 13 games, and will need to rest of the roster to step up without Embiid tonight. Expect Tyrese Maxey to take on most of this responsibility.
Through the opening 24 games that he has been active for, Maxey is averaging 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. In the 16 games he has played without Embiid this season, Maxey has averaged 26.4 points per game. The Kentucky product has struggled to shoot the ball to start this year. He has increased his shooting splits to 42.3% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc but these are each about 4% below his career averages. For a player who has finished in the top five in the NBA in three-point percentage in two of his first four seasons, expect the positive shooting regression to continue.
Maxey has scored more than 27.5 points nine times already this season. This includes scoring 32+ points in three of the previous four games. Philadelphia will face the Sacramento Kings tonight who are in a desperate spot as a franchise. They rank 21st in opponents’ points per game this season and recently fired Mike Brown in hopes of getting back on track. Look for Maxey to lead the charge and do his best to keep the Sixers on track without their MVP. Count on Maxey to record more than 27.5 points for the fourth time in the past five games against a struggling defense.
Jimmy Butler More Than 29.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
There has been plenty of news surrounding Jimmy Butler lately. The disgruntled star has returned to the Heat after a five-game absence. Regardless of whether or not he still wants to be in Miami, Butler is under contract for the rest of the season and has a player option for next year. While he has shown the willingness to do whatever it takes to force his way out of an organization in the past, it is in both sides’ best interest for Butler to continue playing well and proving what he can do on the court.
Butler’s season has been overshadowed by the trade rumors. The six-time all-star is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting a career-high 55.2% from the field. The Heat have a +7.1 net rating when Butler is on the court this season and -0.6 without him.
Miami is set to face off with the 5-28 New Orleans Pelicans tonight. They rank 25th in opponents’ points per game and allow 24.6 points per game to opposing small forwards this season. This is the fourth-worst rate in the NBA. Butler has recorded more than 29.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in 11 of the 20 games he has played this year. With a struggling defense against him and plenty to play for, expect the Heat star to record more than 29.5 points, rebounds, and assists again tonight.
Josh Giddey More Than 29.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
The Chicago Bulls made a surprising decision this offseason to trade Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that brought back Josh Giddey. Chicago’s direction as a franchise is still unclear, but they are giving Giddey the freedom to lead the offensive charge far more often in recent games.
Through the opening 29 games, Giddey is averaging 12.3 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game. He missed four games over the past two weeks but has played with increased aggression since returning. The 22-year-old finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in his first game back and had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists on Monday. Overall, Giddey has recorded more than 29.5 points, rebounds, and assists nine times. This includes three of the past four games.
The Bulls will be facing off with the Wizards tonight. Washington has a 5-25 record on the season and is dead last in points allowed. This will be the second matchup between these two sides. Giddey was limited to 11 points, eight assists, and four rebounds in the first matchup but players just 25:40 of game action as it turned into a blowout. As the Bulls continent to make their long-term evaluations of Giddey expect them to continue putting plenty on his plate. There have been promising signs for the Australian guard in recent games and expect this to continue against a vulnerable Wizards squad.
Wendell Carter Jr Less Than 0.5 Made Three-Pointers
It has been a year to forget for Wendell Carter Jr thus far. The Duke Product is playing a career-low 24.7 minutes per game this season and has not seen a boost in opportunity even amid the injuries to the Magic’s frontcourt. Goga Bitadze has opened some serious eyes with his play and this has been at Carter’s expense. Overall Carter is averaging 7.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
While there have been flashes of Wendell Carter Jr’s perimeter shooting throughout his career, it has not been the case this season. He is connecting on just 17.5% of his long-range attempts and is 7-40 on the season overall. His 1.9 three-point attempts per game is his lowest volume since the 2020-21 season.
Orlando will take on the Detroit Pistons tonight who are tied for 10th in the fewest three-point attempts allowed per game. While he saw 26:48 of game time on Sunday, he played less than 18 minutes in three of the previous four games. He did not make a three-pointer in any of the previous three games and has been held to less than 0.5 made three-pointers in 14 of his 21 games this season. Expect his level of opportunity to remain limited and for Carter Jr to fail to connect on a three-pointer tonight.
Kelly Oubre Jr More Than 19.5 Points & Rebounds
It has been a disastrous start to the season for the Philadelphia 76ers, but Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a consistent bright spot. The Sixers brought in Oubre on a veteran’s minimum contract last season and he vastly outperformed expectations. He was rewarded with a notable contract this offseason and has continued to see his production grow. The Kansas product has started 27 of the 30 games this season and is averaging 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Rebounding has been an issue for this Sixers team all season. They rank 29th in total rebounds as a team and Oubre has played a role in improving this. Across the past 10 games, Oubre is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game including three games with 10+ boards. He has recorded more than 19.5 combined points and rebounds 14 times this season.
While Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are expected to primarily make up for the absence of Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr will also see his role expand. The 29-year-old is attempting just 10.8 shots per game which is his lowest offensive output since the 2017-18 season with the Wizards. Without Embiid on the floor, expect Oubre to be in attack mode and produce more than 19.5 combined points and rebounds for the 15th time this season.
Trae Young More Than 34.5 Points & Assists
There was plenty of skepticism surrounding the Atlanta Hawks entering the season, but their vision for the roster has become clear. Trae Young remains the epicenter of the offense, but Atlanta has surrounded him with athletic high-level defenders. The Hawks have found a nice identity with a more defensive-minded approach compared to what has been the case for most of Young’s career.
The Hawks will face the Denver Nuggets tonight which is a favorable matchup. Denver allows the 10th-most points per game and has given up the third-most assists per game to point guards. While Nikola Jokic is one of the best offensive engines of all time, his limitations can still be seen on the defensive side of the ball. This is especially the case when facing athletic big men like the ones the Hawks possess. Expect Young to manipulate the pick-and-roll opportunities and for the lob opportunities to be plentiful tonight.
Overall, Young is averaging 22.0 points per game and an NBA-best 12.1 assists. He has recorded more than 34.5 combined points and assists in 16 of the 31 games he has played. He was held to 15 points and 10 assists in the first matchup against Denver, but the Nuggets produced a 30-point victory this game. The 2023 champions have not looked as dominant in recent games while the Hawks have exceeded expectations. Count on them to bring their best effort tonight and for Young to be at the epicenter of the production. Count on plenty of pick-and-roll opportunities and for Young to record more than 34.5 combined points and assists 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.
