I’m not sure if the Warriors were considered serious contenders to begin with, but Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear last night puts to rest any whispers of the Warriors making a serious run this season. It’s a brutal blow to Golden State, who are hoping for one last deep playoff run in Curry’s twilight years.
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 favorite plays for tonight’s action.
Stephen Curry Less than 28.5 Points
Curry is averaging 27.4 PPG this season, but following last night’s injury, things may change for the worse for Steph. Losing Jimmy Butler last night knocks a lot of wind out of the Warriors’ sails. Butler was their second-best player and one of the few guys who could punish single coverage or draw help away from Curry. Defenses now have even fewer reasons to hesitate before loading up on him.
Toronto has the length to bother Curry on the perimeter, and they’ve been disciplined about forcing the ball out of stars’ hands. They’ve held opponents to just 24.4 APG this season, the third-lowest mark in the league.
Curry’s volume isn’t going anywhere, but volume under heavy pressure often turns into difficult shots and fewer clean catch and shoot looks. Curry’s never been one to struggle with difficult shot making, but it definitely gets to a point. Without Butler to ease that burden, the path to 29 points becomes thinner than usual, especially against an elite defense squad.
Tyrese Maxey More Than 29.5 Points
Maxey is averaging 30.2 PPG this season, and that number tracks with how Philadelphia uses him as the primary scoring option on this team. He’s still leading the league in MPG, with 39.4 per night.
The Suns haven’t consistently contained explosive guards, and Maxey’s speed puts pressure on the rim while he remains a persistent deep ball threat with 40% from beyond-the-arc on nine shot attempts per game. Despite the Suns having the sixth ranked defense in the league, Maxey is near matchup-proof.
Keldon Johnson Less Than 5.5 Rebounds
Johnson is averaging 6.1 RPG this season, so 5.5 isn’t an outrageous number on the surface. But his recent rebounding profile hasn’t matched that season baseline. Over his last five games, he’s at 3.4 RPG, and even his last 10 sits at 5.2 RPG. Both are Less than tonight’s line.
The matchup tonight against the Rockets doesn’t help him rebound up either. Houston has been one of the better teams in the league at limiting opponent rebounding volume, allowing 48.6 opponent rebounds per game, which is the second lowest in the league. If Johnson isn’t actively cleaning the glass in a given game script, he’s not the type of player whose role guarantees six-plus boards. I’m expecting Johnson to have trouble surpassing 5.5 boards 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!
