We’ve got a big 11 game slate tonight full of exciting matchups once again. Quick update: the Brooklyn Nets remain the only team in the NBA without a win, and that likely won’t change tonight as they’ll face off against a 1-6 Pacers squad that’s bound to be a bit hungrier than the Nets are…right? The Bulls seized the top of the East in exhilarating fashion, erasing a 20 point deficit to cap the night off with a Josh Giddey kickout to Nikola Vucevic for a three to ice the game and plant their flag on the first seed. The NBA is so back.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for tonight’s slate. We simply choose whether a player will record more or less of the set statistic. Here are my six favorite plays for tonight’s action.
Tyrese Maxey More than 29.5 Points
Presumably Joel Embiid will be sitting tonight, setting the stage for Tyrese Maxey to continue his dominant start to the season, in which he’s averaging a league-high 34.4 PPG across seven games. This should regress a little bit, but he’s currently hotter than the sun. He’s splashing an NBA-high 4.6 triples per game, taking an NBA-high 23.1 FGA, and playing an NBA-high 42 MPG. He’s shooting 48.5% from beyond the arc on 9.4 attempts per game.
Maxey has taken complete command over this 76ers offense and apparently for good reason, as the Sixers are 5-1 despite Paul George not playing a single minute and Joel Embiid still not being at 100%. I’m expecting him to continue taking a ton of shots and for him to surpass 29.5 points tonight, even on the second night of a B2B coming off a 39-point effort against the Bulls.
Ja Morant Less Than 21.5 Points
Things seem not well in the Memphis locker room, with Morant having already been suspended one game for detrimental conduct. In that game, he looked actively disengaged from his team and had some choice words for his coaches in post-game interviews, leaving a sour taste in your mouth after looking at his disappointing eight point effort on 3/14 shooting.
In his first game back from suspension, Morant posted 18 points on 5/16 shooting. I’m expecting his troubles on the court to continue. He’ll have Amen Thompson all over him tonight and he seems actively uninterested in playing for Memphis at the moment.
Michael Porter Jr. More Than 19.5 Points
The Nets are a complete dumpster fire currently, but Porter Jr. individually is playing well. He’s averaging a career-high 20.8 PPG and a career-high eight rebounds per game. He’s taking 18 shots per game, the most he’s ever attempted, but his efficiency hasn’t suffered too greatly, as he’s posting a respectable 46.3% from the field. He’s only shooting 33% from three, and while he is absolutely one of the best shooters in the league, he’s now taking more contested looks than before. Porter Jr. no longer has Nikola Jokic feeding him the ball, and thus it seems unreasonable for his three point percentage to return to the 40% mark that he’s been averaging over his career.
Regardless, Porter Jr. is going to lead this Nets’ offense alongside Cam Thomas, and I’m expecting him to continue putting up a ton of shots throughout the season. As long as he attempts his current volume at a hair under 20 FGA per game, I’m confident he’s getting more than 19.5 on a nightly basis.
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!
