Bryan Armetta makes his DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections before Tuesday night’s NBA Cup games.
There are six NBA Cup games on tap for Tuesday, including a playoff rematch between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. With so many players to choose from, there’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings Sportsbook, including DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections ahead of tonight’s matchups.
A 5-9 record isn’t anything spectacular, but the Nets have been a pleasant surprise this year. The rebuilding squad has been competitive against some of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, showing serious growth on both ends of the court. Key to Brooklyn’s relative success has been Cam Thomas. The fourth-year guard has taken full control of the offense, putting up 24.6 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field.
Much like their opponent tonight, the Hornets have shown plenty of improvement on the defensive end. Still, they only rank 19th in points allowed (113.9 PPG). Charlotte has been especially vulnerable on the perimeter this season, giving up 25 points or more to guards like RJ Barrett, Jalen Green, Trae Young, and Darius Garland. With such a large usage rating (30.5%), Thomas could put up plenty of buckets in a hurry.
Due to the brilliance of Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins has become a forgotten man in San Antonio, averaging just 6.6 points in less than 15 minutes per game. However, that doesn’t mean the seven-year veteran is without talent. On a night like Tuesday, with Wemby listed as doubtful, the former Trail Blazer could step up in a major way.
The Thunder might possess the NBA’s best defense, but there’s simply too much volume and precedent in favor of Collins tonight. The former Gonzaga star was terrific when needed last season, putting up 16.7 points in the ten games he played without Wembanyama. On Saturday, he had a team-leading 20 points against the Mavericks. The Spurs will need Collins to contribute against an Oklahoma City team that is thin at center, so expect plenty of touches for this backup turned starter.
With Ja Morant injured yet again, the Grizzlies have needed their bench to step up. So far, Scotty Pippen Jr. has been up to the task. The third-year pro is contributing across the board (11.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.9 RPG), helping keep Memphis afloat without their face of the franchise. In four games as a starter, the 6’1 guard is putting up 11.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
Even though Desmond Bane’s return will eat into the production of Memphis’ non-stars, this number is simply too low. The Nuggets are allowing the most assists to opponents this season (29.9 APG), which is ideal for Pippen Jr., a pass-first guard. In ten of fourteen games this season, the Vanderbilt product has cleared this P+A+R total. Given his still-secure starting position and a vulnerable defense, Pippen Jr. is set up for success.
It’s never fun, but fading a name as big as LeBron sometimes makes sense. While James is still putting up monster numbers at 39 years old, he’s had a handful of disappointing performances. That’s not cause for concern given his All-Star caliber stat line (23.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.2 APG), but it should make you wary of expecting a triple-double every night. That’s especially true on the glass, where a few big games have inflated the King’s rebounding totals. In eight of his thirteen outings this season, LeBron has grabbed less than eight boards.
Although the Jazz are one of the NBA’s worst defenses, their problems are primarily on the perimeter. Down low, the duo of Walker Kessler and John Collins do a decent job of protecting the rim and boxing out. This season, they’ve surrendered 51.2 rebounds to opponents, tenth-lowest in the NBA. In his last ten games against Utah, James has cleared this rebound total just once. As great as LeBron is, this is a prime letdown spot.
The defending champions will face a stiff test on Tuesday when they welcome the 15-0 Cavaliers to Boston. In this marquee matchup between two of the league’s best defenses, points might be at a premium. However, there’s other ways to find an angle in this Eastern Conference clash. While Jayson Tatum will demand most of the attention, he’s not the Celtics star I’d back tonight.
Jaylen Brown is a true jack of all trades, offering stellar production across the board. The three-time All Star has remained a premier scorer (25.6 PPG) while producing career-best marks as a passer (4.0 APG) and rebounder (7.1 RPG) this season. Against Cleveland, Brown is averaging 4.0 assists over his last ten games. This isn’t the most enticing number on today’s slate, but I’ll gladly trust JB’s improving skill as a playmaker.
Speaking of the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been the engines driving the league’s sixth-best defensive rating (110.7 DRtg). The former has actually seen his rebounding total dip slightly this season (8.8 RPG), but that has more to do with how good Cleveland has been. With so many early-season blowouts, head coach Kenny Atkinson has kept most of his starters on the floor for no more than 30 minutes per game. The fourth-year man is one of the best interior defenders in the league, and that should be on full display tonight against Boston.
As good as the Celtics are, their presence down low is seriously lacking without Kristaps Porzingis. Although Al Horford has done a solid job at center, the team is giving up the 18th-most rebounds per game to opponents (53.0 RPG). Even though the Cavs aren’t known for their ability on the glass, Mobley has thrived in this spot before, averaging 10.0 rebounds over his last ten games against Boston. With the C’s weaker than ever on the inside, the power forward is well-positioned for another double-double.
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 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.
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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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