It is a quiet day in the NBA as the final week of the regular season fully kicks off. With each team holding about four games remaining on their schedule, this will be a fateful stretch for a few teams with the playoffs on the horizon. The standings in the Eastern Conference are fairly landlocked while the West is still plenty up for grabs.
Only two games will be taking place in the NBA tonight. The Sacramento Kings will face the Detroit Pistons starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. A half-hour later, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to face the Miami Heat. Sacramento has the most to play for out of these teams as they hold a half-game lead for the ninth seed in the Western Conference and are looking to maintain their play-in outlook.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for action on April 7th. You simply choose whether each set statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my favorite picks across the small slate.
Domantas Sabonis More Than 37.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists
The Sacramento Kings have gone 3-7 in their past 10 games and dropped 11 of their last 16. With the Dallas Mavericks just a half-game behind them and the Phoenix Suns still hopeful to make a push, this is an important closing stretch for the Kings. Domantas Sabonis has battled some injuries during the final stretch of the season but enters this game having played each of the last eight games and returned to his normal self.
On the season, Sabonis is averaging 19.2 points, an NBA-best 13.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. This comes out to 39.2 combined points, rebounds, and assists per game. Across his past six games, the three-time All-Star is averaging 21.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists or 40.7 combined PRA. He has recorded more than 37.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in four straight games and also has performed well against the Pistons. Sabonis has recorded more than 37.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in three of his past four matchups including 60 combined PRA in one game.
Despite their depth and youth at the big-man position, Detroit is allowing 41.3 combined points, rebounds, and assists to starting centers this season. It also is worth noting that Jalen Duren is listed as questionable, which bodes well for Sabonis. The Pistons rank 14th in opponents’ points allowed and 10th in total rebounds recorded. Sacramento needs Sabonis to continue serving successfully as the hub of the offense in this matchup. Expect his veteran savvy and polished post moves to be effective against this youthful Detroit team as the Kings create plenty of chances from cutters around the big man. He has recorded more than 37.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in five of his last six games, and count on this to carry over tonight.
Malik Beasley More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers
The Detroit Pistons added Malik Beasley this offseason as they flipped into win-now mode and he has exceeded all expectations. The journeyman guard is averaging 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season. Beasley is launching a career-high 9.3 three-point attempts per game and connecting at a 41.6% rate. This comes out to an average of 3.9 made three-pointers per game and Beasley has connected on four or more three-pointers in 45 of the 78 games he has played. The 301 made three-pointers he has logged this season is the eight most three-pointers of any player in any NBA season. Steph Curry (five times), Klay Thompson, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Edwards are the only players to record more in a season.
Beasley and the Pistons will face the Sacramento Kings tonight who have struggled to defend the perimeter all season. They rank 20th in opponents’ points per game and are dead last in opponents’ three-point percentage with teams shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc against them.
The Pistons have already secured their best regular season record since at least the 2015-15 season and will be looking to remain in form ahead of their first playoff appearance since 2018-19. Look for them to continue riding what got them here and for Beasley to capitalize on this vulnerable spot in the Kings’ defense. The 28-year-old has attempted 10 or more three-point shots in four straight games and seven of his last 10 matchups. Count on him to continue receiving this level of shot volume and knock down more than 3.5 made three-pointers tonight.
Quentin Grimes More Than 22.5 Points
The Philadelphia 76ers continue to conclude the season with more money committed to the players on the injury report than the players on the floor. None of Joel Embiid, Paul George, Jared McCain, nor Tyrese Maxey are walking back through that locker room and the remaining players will limp to the finish line in their final four games. Quentin Grimes has made the most of this opportunity and is playing with more basketball freedom than he has received at any other stop in his NBA journey.
Across his 25 games with Philadelphia, Grimes is averaging 22.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He has recorded more than 22.5 points in 11 of his past 13 games. Grimes is launching 16.4 field goal attempts per game with the Sixers with his previous career-high being 7.8 per game with the Mavericks and 7.0 per game with the Pistons.
Miami still plays with a defensive-minded approach but has largely underwhelmed this season. They rank seventh in opponents’ points per game allowed but 12th in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 17th in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed. Grimes was limited to 15 points in the first matchup against the Heat but shot 6-for-14 from the field, and this is his only time being held below 20 points since March 6th. Look for Grimes to get his revenge and continue to make the most of his steady green light before he hits free agency this offseason. Count on him recording more than 22.5 points for the 12th time in his past 14 games.
Kel’el Ware More Than 1.5 Rebounds
The emergence of Kel’el Ware has been a positive storyline in the second half of the season for the Heat. After selecting the Indiana product with the 15th overall pick, Ware has seen his role grow as the year has progressed. Overall he has started 32 of the 60 games this season and is averaging 9.0 points and 7.2 rebounds across his 22.0 minutes per game.
Ware’s level of opportunity has expanded of late. Over his past 12 games played, Ware is clocking 28.3 minutes per night and producing 11.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Bam Adebayo is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup which would add more responsibility to the rookie’s plate. Even with Adebayo available of late, Ware has tallied more than 11.5 rebounds in five of his last 10 games.
Philadelphia has struggled to rebound the basketball all season. They rank 24th in opponent rebounds allowed and dead last in total rebounds per game. Ware tallied 13 rebounds in a February matchup with the Sixers while only playing 18:47 of game time and pulled in 14 boards in over 30 minutes of action against Philadelphia just over a week ago. Expect his 7-foot frame to continue causing problems and for Ware to record more than 11.5 rebounds for the 16th time this season.
Adem Bona More Than 19.5 Points & Rebounds
On the other side of the battle with Ware, Adem Bona has done a great job showing what he is capable of in his expanded minutes. The Sixers selected the UCLA product with the 41st overall pick in this year’s draft and showed their faith by handing him a standard contract. Injuries to players like Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond have thrust Bona into the starting lineup and he has made the most of his chances.
On the season overall, Bona is averaging just 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in his 14.4 minutes per game. He is coming off a career-high 28-point performance on Thursday and is averaging 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds across 27.5 minutes per game in his last 11 matchups. Furthermore, Guerschon Yabusele has also been ruled out for tonight’s game due to personal reasons, which further cuts into the depth at the big man position.
Looking at the matchup, Miami ranks 19th in opponents’ rebounds allowed and 14th in opponents’ points in the paint. Bona is still fairly raw in his skillset but plays with a high work rate and has a wide catch radius as a lob threat. His activity around the glass is notable and expect him to have success creating put-back opportunities throughout. He had 16 points and 10 rebounds against the Heat just over a week ago and should be in store for a similar type of performance tonight. Expect Bona to see plenty of opportunity on the floor and be active from start to finish as he records more than 19.5 combined points and rebounds for the fourth time in the past six games and the second time against the Heat during this stretch.
Alec Burks More Than 10.5 Points
In addition to Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins are also both listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup. Miami is well aware of the Sixers’ season outlook and likely will be cautious with their starters with their play-in tournament fate already secured. This paves the way for Alec Burks to step in and play a more prominent offensive role which he has shown capable of doing in stretches throughout his career.
So far this season Burks is averaging 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game across 17.6 minutes of action. He also is shooting 41.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 4.1 perimeter shots per game. Burks has slid into the starting lineup across the past seven games and is attempting 8.9 field goal attempts across this stretch with 7.2 of these shots coming from beyond the three-point arc. He is averaging 12.4 points per game in this stretch and has recorded more than 10.5 points in four of these seven games as well as in 14 total games this season.
Philadelphia has struggled to defend the perimeter all season with them being the only team to allow opponents to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc since the All-Star break. They also are 21st in opponents’ points allowed and are dead last in opponents’ field goal percentage over the entire season. With the Heat expected to be a bit shorthanded and Philadelphia struggling on defense, count on Alec Burks to deliver a strong performance and record more than 10.5 points 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!
