Bryan Armetta makes his DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections before Thursday night’s games.
Just six NBA teams take the floor Thursday, which means finding value is easier said than done. Still, even with a select group of games 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.
Through eight games, Chris Paul has been as advertised for the Spurs. The steady veteran is posting 11.8 points and 8.3 assists per game, providing San Antonio with a much-needed floor general on offense. He’s really stepped up his game as of late, posting a double-double in three of his last four contests.
Portland employs one of the league’s worst perimeter defenses, giving up the fifth-most DK fantasy points to opposing guards. They’ve also allowed 27.8 assists per game, sixth-most in the league, which plays right into Paul’s pass-first skillset. With numerous injuries to San Antonio’s backcourt, the team will need to lean on the future Hall of Famer tonight.
The Bulls don’t have an abundance of young talent, but there’s a few promising contributors at guard. That includes Coby White, who has carried over the momentum from his breakout 2023-24 campaign. This season, White is averaging 19.0 points per game, thanks in no small part to his 3.5 field goal makes.
With such a large volume of long-range shots (9.0 three-point attempts per game), it seems strange to fade White here. However, the Timberwolves defense specializes in forcing opposing shooters to take shots from inside the arc. This year, Minnesota is allowing a league-best 10.9 three-point attempts per game to opposing teams. The young Bulls guard is a dynamic scorer, but he’s going up against some stiff competition.
Minnesota gave Rudy Gobert full control of the paint this summer after the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, but the big man is on pace for his lowest rebounding total in almost a decade (10.0 RPG). However, that’s not reason to panic after seven games, and Thursday’s date with the Bulls should get the seven-footer back on track.
Chicago is giving up 48.3 rebounds per game to opponents this year, third-highest in the NBA. In addition, Gobert has cleared the 12-rebound mark in eight of his past ten games against the Bulls. With nobody on the other side equipped to keep him off the glass, the Frenchman is in a great spot to post another double-double.
Since being traded from the Suns, Deandre Ayton has become one of basketball’s most underrated players. While he has clear flaws as a rim-protector, the former number one selection has become a rebounding machine, averaging 11.1 per game since being traded to Portland last summer. However, a matchup with the Spurs tonight doesn’t bode well for his chances on the glass.
This season, San Antonio is allowing 40.8 rebounds per game to opponents, the seventh-lowest mark in basketball. That number goes down to second-lowest in terms of defensive rebounds per game (30.8). While Ayton should still grab a few boards, the 7’4 frame of Victor Wembanyama is enough to sway me towards fading him.
While Julius Randle has played well since joining the Timberwolves, fellow trade acquisition Donte DiVincenzo has had a more difficult time getting up to speed. The former Knick has put up 10.4 points on 38.5% shooting, a far cry from his terrific numbers last season. It’s never easy to pick a struggling bench player, but tonight’s matchup sets DDV up for a bounce-back outing.
Things are already starting to trend in the right direction for DiVincenzo; he’s averaging 14 points on 10 of 16 shooting during his past two games. The Bulls have allowed the fifth-most three-point attempts per game (39.5), which should keep Donte busy. This is a matchup that DiVincenzo has excelled in before; over four games against Chicago last season, he averaged 16.7 points per game. The seventh-year pro is in a classic buy-low spot on Thursday.
On a Spurs team battered by injuries, unexpected players have been forced into significant roles. That includes Julian Champagnie, who has started every game for the team this season. The third-year guard has seen his minutes per game total skyrocket to 27.6 per game, a nearly eight-minute increase from last season. He’s responded with respectable averages of 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Now, with Jeremy Sochan out due to a fractured thumb, there isn’t much standing in the way of Champagnie and a hefty workload. Portland has a dearth of quality wing defenders, and they will likely prioritize stopping Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul. That should leave the former St. John’s sharpshooter open from deep, where he’s averaging nearly six attempts a night from three-point range. This pick is simple: a weak defense combined with a thirty-minute workload should lead to double-digit points for Champagnie.
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.
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
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.
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!
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
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.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
