The second half of the NBA season continues on Tuesday, with nine games set to tip off. Among the matchups to watch, a primetime battle in New York between the Warriors and Knicks should be entertaining. There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s contests!
Aaron Nesmith more than 10.5 points
Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam lead Indiana’s offense, but there’s room for everyone to produce on one of the NBA’s highest-scoring teams. Aarond Nesmith often acts as a defensive pest for the Pacers, shadowing some of the better guards in basketball. However, the forward has chipped in on the other end of the floor, averaging 16.4 points over his last five games.
Nesmith has been an erratic scorer this season, but that’s to be expected following an ankle injury in November. The forward will have a challenge on Tuesday against the Rockets. Houston has allowed 106.6 to opponents this season, the third-lowest mark in basketball. Still, the 25-year-old has reached 11 points in four of his last five appearances. Another solid outing on offense is likelier than not tonight.
Darius Garland more than 2.5 three-pointers made
While Donovan Mitchell is Cleveland’s best player, the offense runs through Darius Garland. The Cavaliers depend on the point guard to serve as both a distributor and a high-volume scorer. Through 56 games, he’s been all that and more. This season, the two-time All-Star has recorded 21.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
The most reliable component of the 25-year-old’s game is his shooting ability. An efficient 48.6% field goal percentage is topped by an even more impressive 42.0% mark from beyond the arc. Tuesday’s opponent, the Bulls, have allowed 17.0 three-pointers over their last three contests, third-most in the NBA. Cleveland’s star guard should have no trouble getting open looks against one of basketball’s worst defenses.
Andre Drummond more than 10.5 rebounds
A season-ending injury for Joel Embiid has opened up more minutes for Andre Drummond. Philadelphia’s over-qualified backup has been terrific over his past three appearances in the starting lineup. During that time, the former All-Star has posted 14.0 points and 13.7 rebounds for the 76ers.
It helps that the 6’11” big man will face a Timberwolves team missing Rudy Gobert down low. Without the former Defensive Player of the Year, the Timberwolves will turn to Naz Reid at center. Last season’s Sixth Man of the Year is a terrific scorer, but he’s a clear downgrade on the glass. Minnesota has surrendered 65.3 rebounds over its last three games, most in the association. Philadelphia’s double-double machine is set up nicely against a team that can’t box out right now.
Matas Buzelis less than 21.5 points + rebounds + assists
There hasn’t been much for Bulls fans to get excited about this season. Matas Buzelis has offered a glimmer of hope for Chicago over the past month. Since February 5th, the forward has averaged 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. High offensive potential and versatility has made the rookie a true second-half sleeper in most fantasy basketball formats.
As promising as Buzelis’ recent play has been, Tuesday presents a different kind of challenge. The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers are one of the NBA’s better defensive units. To make matters worse, the former lottery pick has struggled recently. During four of Buzelis’ last five appearances, he’s tallied fewer than 21.5 points+rebounds+assists. That’s an ominous trend heading into tonight’s difficult matchup.
Kris Dunn more than 1.5 steals
On paper, Kris Dunn’s numbers aren’t very enticing: 6.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Poor shooting splits (43.4/31.6/56.3) don’t paint a pretty picture either. However, offense isn’t what the 30-year-old prioritizes. Even on a Clippers team filled with quality defenders, Dunn has managed to stand out. The guard has posted 1.8 steals over 53 appearances this season.
Recently, the Clippers have begun to give the veteran a bigger workload, leading to some impressive numbers. That’s especially true on defense, where Dunn has accounted for a whopping 2.9 steals over his last ten outings. Los Angeles’ opponent tonight, the Suns, have coughed up 16.7 turnovers over their last three games. That’s the sixth-highest mark in basketball. A crafty perimeter defender such as Dunn can easily snag a few steals tonight against Phoenix.
LeBron James more than 7.5 assists
At this point, nothing LeBron James does should surprise anyone. The four-time MVP has made a career out of defying expectations; an All-NBA season at age 40 could be his latest achievement. Through 55 games, the future Hall of Famer has averaged 24.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.6 assists.
Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles hasn’t slowed down The King so far. Still, James has a higher fantasy basketball ceiling without another superstar on the floor. That could be the case on Tuesday, with both Doncic (knee) and Austin Reaves (calf) listed as questionable. If the Lakers sit one or both of their starting guards, LeBron should have more responsibility as a ball-handler against the Pelicans. This season, New Orleans has given up 28.9 assists to opponents, the fourth-highest mark in the NBA. Look for James to dish out plenty of dimes to his teammates in this one.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not 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 can not pick the same player twice and you must pick 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.
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