A pair of Game 6 NBA playoff matchups are on tap for Thursday night. First, the scrappy Pistons will attempt to even things up with the Knicks. Later, the Nuggets visit the Clippers for a chance to reach the Western Conference semifinals. There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball selections before tonight’s contests!
Jalen Brunson more than 28.5 points
In a career filled with terrific postseason performances, Jalen Brunson was at his worst on Tuesday. The two-time All-Star posted 16 points on 25.0% shooting en route to a 106-103 Knicks loss. A letdown game against a tough Pistons defense was likely inevitable, but it was still surprising to see Brunson struggle. It’s unlikely that continues tonight.
For all the discourse over Brunson’s foul-baiting, he doesn’t need a good whistle to dominate. Look no further than Game 4, in which the superstar dropped 32 points on 50.0% shooting while taking just two free throws. In four of his last five appearances, New York’s leading man has put up at least 30 points. Some might crumble against a hostile Detroit crowd, but Brunson thrives on the road. As long as his ankle holds up, the All-NBA guard is poised for another stellar showing.
Tim Hardaway Jr. more than 2.5 three-pointers made
We’ll stay in Motown, where the Pistons will attempt to even things up with New York. Other than Cade Cunningham, four different Detroit players have scored 20 points in a game this series. That includes Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired last summer from the Mavericks. It’s been a mixed bag for the veteran this series; despite a few big nights, he’s shot 35.0% from the field.
Hardway Jr., while streaky, is still someone that can take advantage of poor coverage. In this series, he’s enjoyed three different outings of three or more shots made from beyond the arc. That includes Games 3 and 4, both played in Detroit. This season, opponents have knocked down 36.5% of their three-point attempts vs. the Knicks, the seventh-highest mark in basketball. Expect the Pistons to give their sharpshooter several good looks from deep.
Josh Hart more than 26.5 points + rebounds + assists
On Tuesday, the Knicks were out-muscled and out-rebounded by the Pistons. New York’s star duo of Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns shot a combined 9-of-30 from the field. One of the few players on the team that did step up was Josh Hart. The two-way wing dropped 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists over 36 minutes. If the ‘Bockers are going to wrap this series up, they’ll need a similar performance tonight.
An all-around threat such as Hart is difficult to pin down. On one night, the forward could serve as a secondary scorer. On another, he may focus more on crashing the boards and setting up teammates. Regardless, the 30-year-old has reached 27 points + rebounds + assists in each of his last two games. With Detroit’s defense locked in on Brunson and Towns, there should be room for Hart to produce. One of the sport’s ultimate glue guys should thrive in a potential grind-it-out slugfest on Thursday.
Jamal Murray more than 9.5 assists + rebounds
At long last, postseason Jamal Murray is back. The 28-year-old accounted for 43 points on Tuesday, leading his Nuggets to a 131-115 victory. It was yet another standout stat line for the former champion, known for his stellar big-game performances. Denver, up 3-2 in their series with the Clippers, will look for another Murray masterpiece on Thursday.
As tempting as it is to back the Canadian’s point total, he can do more than just score. In three of five games this series, Murray has notched at least six assists and five rebounds. The guard has produced at least 12 assists + rebounds in four of his last five meetings with Los Angeles. After getting burned by Denver’s second-best player in Game 5, Clippers head coach Ty Lue should make a concerted effort to slow down Murray. However, the veteran is too talented not to make an impact in this one.
James Harden more than 14.5 assists + rebounds
Having suffered two straight losses, the pressure is on Los Angeles to avoid elimination tonight. If there’s any optimism for the Clippers, it’s due to stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. The latter hasn’t served as a primary scoring option, reaching 20+ points only twice in this series. However, the guard has dished out an average of 8.6 assists per game this postseason. That level of playmaking has come in handy against a Nuggets team that struggles to defend the perimeter.
At 35 years old, Harden’s best days are behind him. However, the former MVP doesn’t need 30+ points to make an impact. This season, the Nuggets have allowed 28.8 assists per game, third-most in basketball. A savvy ball handler such as The Beard should be able to exploit Denver’s inability to defend passes. If Harden comes close to his season-long average of 5.8 rebounds, he can easily clear this total tonight.
Aaron Gordon more than 19.5 points + rebounds
Finding a consistent third option on offense has been an issue all season for the Nuggets. In years past, Michael Porter Jr. has served as the perfect wing to pair with Murray and Nikola Jokic. However, the forward has posted just 11.2 points per game this postseason. If anyone on Denver’s roster has stepped up, its Aaron Gordon. Through five playoff games, he’s averaged 18.2 points and 6.2 rebounds on 49.2% shooting from the field. That includes a game-winning tip-in to end Game 4.
As good as the Clippers are on defense, their priority is on Jokic and Murray. Whenever those two are on the court, there will always be opportunities for Gordon to make an impact. In each contest this series, the power forward has tallied at least 20 points + rebounds. That’s also been the case in seven of his previous ten outings vs. Los Angeles. Sometimes in fantasy basketball, you need to ride the hot hand; Gordon’s recent production is impossible to ignore.
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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.
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