We only have four games on the NBA slate tonight, tipping off early at 3 PM EST with the Pelicans visiting the Hornets and concluding with the 76ers visiting the LA Clippers at 10 PM EST. We’ll get to see an exciting matchup between two former teammates in James Harden and Joel Embiid, as long as Harden can suit up.
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.
Joel Embiid More than 28.5 Points
Embiid’s averaging 26.2 PPG this season, but he’s been absolutely scorching as of late, putting up 30.8 PPG over his last 10 games. In his most recent game he looked particularly aggressive on offense, playing 39 minutes and scoring 40 points on 13-27 shooting. He got to the line 14 times and it appears his offensive game is back, even if it’s dubious that he’ll get back into his all-around form. He’s visibly not chasing rebounds as hard, nor is he as interested in getting in the mix near the rim as much as he used to.
I’m expecting Embiid to stay in the zone tonight, especially since the 76ers will now be missing Paul George for 25 games.
Alperen Sengun More Than 23.5 Points
Sengun will get a nice matchup tonight against a weak Pacers defense. Sengun missed the Rockets’ first meeting with the Pacers this season in late December but should be able to give it a go tonight. He’s averaging 21 PPG, which is an improvement upon last season. There may also be some extra motivation for the Turk tonight as he was recently left off the All-Star list.
The Pacers are conceding the sixth most PPG in the NBA due to both their fast pace and poor defense; both factors here favor Sengun exceeding 23.5 points tonight.
Andrew Nembhard Less Than 7.5 Assists
Nembhard is at 7.5 APG on the season, which is a career-high. He’s stepping in for the Pacers as their lead guard without Tyrese Haliburton this season and is averaging a serviceable 17.6 PPG to go along with his assist output.
Houston is the type of opponent that can force that assist count to come back down to earth. They’re fifth in defensive rating with 111.9 points per 48 minutes allowed and they’re conceding just 24.38 opponent APG on the season, which is the second-lowest mark in the league. If Houston cuts off the easy stuff and Indiana has to finish possessions with tougher shots or late-clock creation, it’s unreasonable to expect a high assist total out of Nembhard tonight, even with the type of season that he’s been having.
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!
