It has been a thrilling start to the NBA playoffs with plenty of great basketball still on the horizon. Two crucial Game 3 matchups will be tipping off tonight as the second round action continues.
To start, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to dig out of the 0-2 series hole in Indiana tonight. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter each missed the previous matchup with there being an increased optimism that each of these key members could return. Then, the Denver Nuggets will host the Oklahoma City Thunder with the series tied at one win each.
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 on Friday, May 9. 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 for the pair of Friday night Game 3s.
Donovan Mitchell More Than 28.5 Points
After leading the Eastern Conference from wire-to-wire in the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers find their backs against the wall sooner than expected. They led by 20 points in the previous game and blew a seven-point lead in the final minute, complete with a Tyrese Haliburton dagger three-pointer. With the Pacers crowd set to be against Cleveland, it is going to take an all-out effort from the Cavaliers — expect Donovan Mitchell to lead the charge.
While it has not translated to wins, Mitchell’s performance level has been impressive in this series. He dropped 33 points in the series opener and is coming off a 48-point and nine-assist outing in the previous game. His usage has been off the charts, launching 30 shots in both games. Mitchell also got to the free-throw line 21 times in the previous matchup.
Garland’s potential return will take some responsibility off of Mitchell’s plate, but expect the six-time All-Star to remain the epicenter of the team’s attack. He has a strong playoff track record that includes recording more than 28.5 points in 30 playoff games and averaging as many as 36.3 points during a playoff run.
Mitchell also tallied 35 points in one of the two regular-season matchups with Indiana. The Cavaliers’ star has been willing to take a backseat throughout the season for the betterment of the team, but the time for that has passed. Expect a desperate effort from Mitchell and the Cavaliers tonight as he gets up plenty of shots and cruises to more than 28.5 points for the third straight game in this series.
Andrew Nembhard More Than 13.5 Points
Haliburton has been the story of the series, stepping into center stage and carrying a chip on his shoulder following his “overrated” label. But don’t let this completely overshadow the impact of Andrew Nembhard. After scoring 10 points per game in the regular season, Nembhard is averaging 15.9 points per game in this playoff run. He had a similar leap last year, averaging 9.2 points per game throughout the regular season before dropping 14.9 points per game in the postseason. Nembhard has recorded more than 13.5 points in five of the seven playoff games thus far, including dropping as many as 23 points in Game 1.
Expect the Cavaliers to make some defensive adjustments on Haliburton as they take every necessary step to get in the win column. Haliburton’s willingness to differ has been a point of concern throughout his career and could be a factor tonight. Nembhard has not been shy to step up when this occurs, and this should be expected to be the case tonight. The 25-year-old is a capable catch-and-shoot player with the ability to take opponents off the dribble. He attacks closeouts well and has attempted 10+ shots in all but one postseason game after averaging 8.3 FGA per game across the regular season.
Count on Nembhard’s increased usage to continue, and for Indiana to need to lean on their secondary scoring options in this must-win game from Cleveland’s perspective. The Gonzaga product has played himself into the “playoff riser” category, and these are the moments he seems to relish.
Jamal Murray Less Than 20.5 Points
Another player who is firmly in the “playoff riser” category is Jamal Murray. However, it has been an up-and-down season for Murray, and this has carried right into the playoffs. He’s scored 14 and 21 points while shooting 10-of-25 overall in this series. The nine field goal attempts in Game 2 were the second-fewest shot attempts across his 74 career playoff games. While he has tallied more than 20.5 points in six of the nine playoff games thus far, he has finished with exactly 21 in three of these efforts.
The Oklahoma City defense is the biggest story here. Lu Dort has made his presence felt, putting Murray in the “Dorture Chamber” and serving as his primary defender. The scrappy wing does an excellent job chasing Murray around pick-and-roll opportunities and taking away easy shots. The Thunder ranked third in the NBA in opponents’ points per game and first in defensive rating during the regular season. They continue to lead the league in defensive rating in the postseason and were back to their usual selves in Game 2. Including the regular season, Murray has been held to less than 20.5 points in three of the five matchups with the Thunder this year.
Game 1, in which Murray dropped 21 points, was a wake-up call for Oklahoma City. If it is going to reach its championship aspirations, it needs to start on the defensive end. Expect a clear focus from the Thunder, with Murray set to be one of the most impacted by this. Count on Dort hounding him throughout the game, and for Murray to have difficulties creating separation throughout. Expect Murray to be held to less than 20.5 points in this high-intensity environment, and for the third time in the past four games.
Lu Dort More Than 2.5 Made Three-Pointers
For all that he brings to the table defensively, Dort is still a work in progress offensively. Denver has shown it is more than willing to live and die with his offense. Dort shot nine three-point attempts in each of the first two playoff matchups. The 26-year-old shot 4-for-9 from deep in Game 1 and 2-for-9 in Game 2.
While he will not be confused for an All-Star level offensive talent, Dort had the best perimeter shooting season of his career, connecting on 41.2% of his long-range shots. He also attempted 5.8 three-pointers per game in the regular season, with this volume increasing to 6.8 in the playoffs. It is worth noting his three-point percentage has slipped to 29.3% in the postseason, but Dort has knocked down four three-pointers in two of the six playoff games and attempted at least four long-range shots in each.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren set to garner most of the defensive attention, count on Dort benefitting from wide-open perimeter looks. It also should be acknowledged that this game is taking place in Denver. Dort connected on three three-pointers in a road matchup with Denver already this year, and he shot 8-for-14 from beyond the arc against the Nuggets in another regular-season game. With this many guaranteed minutes and shot volume, I like Dort’s chances of connecting on more than 2.5 made three-pointers again tonight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander More Than 12.5 Assists & Rebounds
The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, but Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear head of the snake. The likely MVP has scored 30+ points in four straight games, including 33 and 34 in the opening two games of this series. While the reigning NBA scoring champion makes the majority of his impact felt as a scorer, he is a complete basketball player who can impact winning in any area. Denver also has not done a good enough job of forcing the ball out of his hands.
Expect a more focused effort from the Nuggets tonight in front of their home crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander also averages 1.5 points fewer when playing on the road this season. This should directly lead to more opportunities as a playmaker with Gilgeous-Alexander still averaging 6.4 assists in the regular season and 6.7 per game in the playoffs. In addition, his rebounding output has grown from 5.0 in the regular season to 5.7 in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic pulled in 22 rebounds in the opening game, with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein losing the one-on-one matchup. This has resulted in more of a team rebounding effort from the Thunder, with Gilgeous-Alexander doing his part. He tallied 18 combined assists and rebounds in Game 1 and 12 in the second matchup despite his minutes being limited due to a blowout. Heading into Game 3, count on the Thunder star to impact the game to the fullest extent and record more than 12.5 combined assists and rebounds.
Isaiah Hartenstein More Than 1.5 Steals & Blocks
The Oklahoma City Thunder were bounced from the playoffs last year, with their lack of interior resistance the biggest reason why. They went out and signed Hartenstein in free agency to combat this problem with this specific matchup in mind. Jokic is impossible to fully neutralize, but limiting his impact is essential for this Oklahoma City team. Hartenstein has been a clean fit and taken this team to a new level, averaging 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals during the regular season.
The 7-footer will once again receive the impossible task of stopping Jokic tonight. He tallied a block and a steal in the previous game and tallied as many as four steals in a game during the previous series against the Grizzlies. Hartenstein tallied more than 1.5 combined steals and blocks in 31 of the 57 regular-season games and will approach tonight with a clear defensive mindset.
Expect his hands to be active in this game, disrupting passing lanes and providing resistance at the rim. The Thunder have switched up their matchups for stretches, allowing Holmgren to guard Jokic, while Hartenstein roams as a rim protector. This strategy has had success against Jokic in the past and increases his chances of generating blocks and steals. Denver turned the ball over 14.1 times per game in the regular season, which ranked 17th in the league. Expect Hartenstein to rise to the challenge tonight and impose himself defensively by recording more than 1.5 combined steals and blocks.
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!
