Bryan Armetta makes his DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections before Saturday night’s games.
Saturday brings us a loaded ten-game NBA slate, which means there’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings Sportsbook. Big names such as Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama are all taking the floor tonight, but plenty of lesser-known names that could net you a serious profit as well. Make sure to play these DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections ahead of tonight’s matchups.
RJ Barrett more than 30.5 points + assists
The Raptors are dealing with a plethora of injuries at the moment, as both Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley are currently out of action. That’s opened up plenty of opportunity for some of the other players on the roster, including RJ Barrett. Over three games this season, the Canadian is averaging 28.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Stretching back to last year, when he was traded by the Knicks, Barrett is averaging over 26 PAR in Toronto. Keep in mind, most of those games have come with Barnes and Quickley playing. With that in mind, this is a pretty reasonable total for the six-year veteran to clear against a mediocre Kings defense tonight.
Fred VanVleet more than 16.5 points
It’s been a downright awful start to the season for Fred VanVleet. He’s shooting a paltry 30.3% from the field, with averages of 12.3 points, 5.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. Those numbers are not what we’re used to seeing from the former All-Star, who was arguably Houston’s best player last year. However, there are some positive underlying numbers that suggest a bounce-back could occur sooner rather than later.
The most obvious reason for optimism is VanVleet’s workload. He’s currently averaging a team-leading 37.4 minutes per game, taking 13.2 shot attempts in that time. The former Raptor is somehow shooting better from three-point range (31.1%) than inside the arc (28.6%), a trend that’s bound to change. There’s no reason to think head coach Ime Udoka will suddenly diminish his veteran point guard’s role after five outings, so I’ll gladly buy low on a player that is bound to see more shots fall going forward.
Naz Reid more than 1.5 three-pointers made
Due to his role off the bench, Naz Reid is a bit of a wildcard when it comes to statistical output. Even after Minnesota traded center Karl-Anthony Towns this offseason, Reid is still hovering around 24 minutes per game, However, the big man’s shooting has always remained a constant, shooting 37.5% on three-pointers over his six-year career.
Saturday’s showdown with the Spurs sets up Reid nicely from beyond the arc. San Antonio has given up 14.2 three-pointers per game, ninth-most in the NBA. Last season’s Sixth Man of the Year only made an average of 1.3 threes in four games against the Spurs last year, but he took 4.3 per game. If Reid shoots more in line with his career percentages, he should knock down more than one long ball.
Draymond Green less than 18.5 points + assists + rebounds
Draymond Green’s contributions go beyond the box score, but he hasn’t quite been himself thus far. The four-time All Star is putting up a paltry 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season, playing just over 25 minutes per game in Steve Kerr’s expanded rotation. It’s not unusual for the thirteen-year veteran to go through a slump, but the number of different names in Golden State has made things tricky for fantasy purposes.
Even without the uncertainty surrounding the Warriors, past history suggests that 18.5 is too high for this total. In his last five games against the Rockets, Green is averaging 17.4 PAR. Over his previous five games without Steph Curry, Draymond is putting up an even worse 15.4 PAR. There’s always the chance Kerr mixes up his rotation even further, but there’s not enough clarity here to back any Warrior, let alone one that struggles to create their own offense.
Julius Randle more than 24.5 points + assists
So far, so good for Julius Randle in Minnesota. The big man is putting up 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on a remarkable 60.9% shooting from the field. While that last number is bound to regress going forward, I think we see the three-time All Star put together another solid performance against a vulnerable San Antonio defense tonight.
Over his previous five games against the Spurs as a member of the Knicks, Randle is averaging 21.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Those numbers are even more impressive considering one of those outings was a two-point game back in 2022. Given his history with this opponent, I’m expecting one more vintage Randle showing.
Jalen Green 32.5 points + assists + rebounds
While Fred VanVleet is playing the most minutes, Jalen Green is controlling the Rockets offense. The fourth-year guard has been the focal point of Houston’s scoring attack, putting up 27.6 points over his first five games. Although he’s never been the most efficient player, Green’s improvement on three-pointers (40.7% on 10.8 attempts) has taken his game to another level.
With a team-leading usage rate of 31.2%, there’s no reason to think this current hot streak is a fluke. The former number two overall pick has always had the talent, but it’s clear that his years of experience are starting to pay off. Considering he’s gone past this PAR total over his last three games, I’ll back Green to get it done one more time against a depleted Golden State guard rotation.
Play DraftKings NBA Pick6 before tonight’s four-game slate tips off at 8:00 PM EST!
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not 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.
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 can not pick the same player twice and you must pick 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.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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