Nine games will be taking place on the NBA slate tonight as the season hits its full stride.
The Phoenix Suns made headlines last night when it was announced they plan to reduce Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic to off-the-bench roles as tensions rise within the organization. After getting off to an 8-1 start to the season, they have slipped to 15-18 and sit in 12th place in the Western Conference. Looking around the rest of the NBA, Jimmy Butler trade talks continue to steal headlines and the Kings are coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season and are 4-1 since firing Mike Brown.
On the court, the Suns will face off with the Philadelphia 76ers tonight in their first attempt with the new lineup. In addition, the New York Knicks will host the injury-riddled Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Dallas Mavericks. The final matchup on tonight’s slate will be between the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat as both teams navigate their internal turmoil.
With plenty of available games and players to choose from, tonight is a great chance 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 6th. 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.
Joel Embiid More Than 29.5 Points
UPDATE: Joel Embiid has been ruled OUT for tonight’s game due to a left foot sprain.
Tonight may mark the first time all season that the Philadelphia 76ers hold fewer internal concerns than their opponent. There is still plenty of work to be done, but the Sixers have won 11 of their last 16 games and started their climb up the Eastern Conference. Joel Embiid being on the floor more consistently and returning to his expected level of play has been the biggest catalyst for this turnaround.
Across the 13 games he has played, Embiid is averaging 24.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Excluding his ejection against the Spurs and when he left the matchup with the Pacers due to injury, Embiid is averaging 31.5 points per game across the past eight games he has started and finished. Even after being held to 20 or fewer points in each of the first three games, Embiid is returning to form and has recorded more than 29.5 points five times.
With Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic set to come off the bench, Mason Plumlee is likely to be elevated to the starting lineup unless they opt to play small ball. In either case, Embiid will have a direct line to plenty of scoring opportunities. His struggles this season have had far more to do with his battle with his own body than anything opponents have done and this is one of the most favorable matchups he could ask for. Pheonix ranks 20th in points allowed and 20th in points in the paint conceded on the season. Expect Embiid to be in attack mode tonight and record more than 29.5 points in the matchup.
Anthony Edwards More Than 25.5 Points
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a surprising decision to trade away Karl-Anthony Towns shortly before the season and are feeling the effects. The organization turned the keys fully over to Anthony Edwards who has had some growing pains as the clear top guy. Overall, Edwards is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this season. The most notable change in his play has been his level of impact from beyond the three-point line. Edwards is attempting a career-high 9.9 three-point attempts per game and connecting at a 42.1% rate.
Minnesota will take on the Clippers tonight. They have embraced more of a defensive-minded approach this season and are now trying to find their full ceiling as a team with Kawhi Leonard back on the floor. Edwards raised eyebrows with some comments earlier this week as he voiced his frustrations with having to play more of a playmaking-oriented role due to how teams are guarding him. He responded to this by dropping 53 points the last time he was on the floor in which he shot 10-of-15 from beyond the three-point arc.
For better or for worse, the Timberwolves will only go as far as Anthony Edwards can take them. While he still has a ways to go for the impressive statistical output to translate to team success, the Georgia product is willing to go down shooting the basketball. He has recorded more than 25.5 points in 17 of the 34 games this season and is coming off his highest-scoring output all year. Look for Edwards to continue letting it fly and record more than 25.5 points tonight.
Norman Powell Less Than 20.5 Points
The Los Angeles Clippers saw a notable boost as Kawhi Leonard made his season debut on Saturday against the Hawks. Leonard played 19:25 of game action which he finished with 12 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. The Clippers will be careful with his continued ramp-up process but the expectation is for Leonard to be available again tonight.
Norman Powell deserves a great deal of credit for stepping into Leondard’s shoes during his absence. The 31-year-old is having a career year and is averaging 23.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Powell is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc and 43.9% on three-point attempts with career-high volume for each. Unfortunately, Powell has hit a bit of an offensive lull of late and Leonard’s growing role in the offense will not help him get back on track.
In Leonard’s debut, Powell was held to 20 points. He had just six points the game prior on a season-worst 1-11 shooting and also was held to just 15 points the game before that. The Clippers will face off with the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight who have several rangy, athletic defenders that will make life difficult. Expect opportunities to be more limited for Powell and for the former NBA champion to be held to less than 20.5 points for the fourth consecutive game.
James Harden More Than 12.5 Assists & Rebounds
In addition to the breakout of Norman Powell, James Harden has done an impressive job of helping to keep this Clippers team afloat. Across the first 33 games he has played, Harden is averaging 21.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game. Without Leonard, he has been forced to play in more of an attack-minded role with his 21.5 points per game marking his highest scoring output since his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
Harden remains one of the league’s best playmakers and will begin to settle back into this role as the team returns to full strength. Overall this season Harden has recorded more than 12.5 assists and rebounds in 17 of the 33 games he has played. He added an impressive 15 assists on Saturday in Leonard’s debut and the full picture of what this Clippers team could be can now be painted with Leonard on the floor.
Expect Harden to continue to serve as the lead ball handler and run the Clippers offense. But he will be more comfortable serving as a primary playmaker rather than a score-first mentality moving forward. While he can record more than 12.5 assists on any given night, and has four times already this year, he is a capable rebounder as well. Expect his impact to still be felt tonight and for Harden to log more than 12.5 combined assists and rebounds against the Timberwolves.
T.J. McConnell More Than 16.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
Now in his 10th NBA season, T.J. McConnell has carved out a nice niche for himself. The former undrafted Arizona guard has proven to be one of the more impactful bench guards in the NBA and has proven much more important to this Pacers team than expected this year. The variable play of Tyrese Haliburton has been the route of this issue. This has been especially evident in road games and the Pacers will be playing in Brooklyn tonight.
Across his 19.5 minutes per game this season, McConnell is averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds. He has recorded more than 16.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in 22 of the 35 games he has played. During the first matchup with the Nets this year, McConnell finished with 14 points, two assists, and two rebounds.
Brooklyn has only sunk further into their tank since their first matchup on October 30th. They have since traded away Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Shake Milton. The Nets have lost four of their last five games entering this matchup and most recently by 29 points to the Sixers. If this game does turn into a blowout there could be some additional minutes for McConnell, but he will see his regular role regardless. Look for him to continue his strong season and record more than 16.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists tonight.
Malik Monk More Than 25.5 Points & Assists
The Sacramento Kings are set to take on the Miami Heat tonight with both organizations in a state of flux. The Heat will continue to navigate the Jimmy Butler trade request while the Kings elected to fire Mike Brown in an attempt to spark a change. Sacramento is 4-1 since the firing with Malik Monk looking to be the biggest beneficiary of the team’s change.
On the season overall, Monk is averaging 16.8 points and 5.2 assists per game. he is shooting 44.7% from the field and 36.0% from beyond the three-point arc. Across his past five games following the coaching change, Monk has averaged 22.2 points and 7.4 assists. He is shooting 47.4% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the three-point arc on increased volume.
Expect Monk to continue operating in attack mode against the Heat tonight. While he has only recorded more than 25.5 combined points and assists 10 times this season, four of these have come over the past five games. Miami ranks seventh in opponents’ points per game but has failed to assert themselves on this side of the ball as consistently this season. Expect Monk to be at the forefront of the Kings’ offensive attack and record over 25.5 points and assists again tonight. He also could get a further boost in opportunity as De’Aaron Fox missed last night’s game with a hip injury and his status is uncertain for tonight. Expect Monk to see plenty of opportunity and record more than 25.5 combined points and assists in the process.
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.
