With only two games on the docket it may seem as if the NBA is taking a back seat to MLB opening day and the return of the NCAA tournament. The Celtics are heavy favorites on the road against the Hawks, and the Pelicans are tight home dogs hosting the Bucks. Plenty of playoff implications on the line in the later game, and revenge is in the air in Atlanta. That means value when it comes to DraftKings Pick6, and we have three strong plays to tail!
Looking for more NBA pick’em advice? Check out the rest of our NBA articles or our NBA pick’em tools. You can also read our guide to DraftKings Pick6.
Here’s the lowdown on DraftKings Pick6: It is meant to mirror most pick’em sites, allowing you to build a two- to six-leg entry with larger payouts for more correct choices. However, the new product is peer-to-peer, meaning the strategy lies in beating other players in pre-selected tournaments rather than beating the house, making it important to be contrarian!
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DraftKings Pick6 Predictions Today – NBA Slate
Jonas Valanciunas M/L 7.5 Points
This is a low number for Jonas Valanciunas as he faces Giannis and the Bucks front court. The Pelicans big man already faced this same team, dropping 13 on the Bucks. It was a blowout victory where Milwaukee cruised, yet Valanciunas still hoisted 8 shots, knocking down 6 of those. New Orleans is strapped in the middle of the West trying to create some distance in seeding, this is not a game they will take lightly, especially looking to avenge that horrible loss.
The true odds on our OddsShopper pick’em tool are -160 for Valanciunas to score 8 points. That’s essentially an alt line we get to play on Pick 6, especially knowing our implied odds are -132. We get a massive break and edge against the market by finding a +EV spot like this to attack. Confidently go MORE than this 7.5 point total.
DraftKings Pick6 Prediction: Jonas Valanciunas MORE Than 7.5 Points
Zion Williamson M/L 6.5 Assists
We stay in New Orleans and target one of the two biggest reasons for the Pelicans success. Zion Williamson is clearly a force, averaging just over 23 points this month – would be more outside of a 4 point game – and even improving his passing. While he still has a way to go before being an elite passer, the assist numbers have seen a recent couple of games with a spike – including most recently 10 dimes against the Thunder.
But that’s just it, with strong assist games coming against teams like the Thunder, Pacers, Hawks, and Raptors this month, we see pacing and tempo being a large factor. Tonight’s game against the Bucks won’t be in that similar fashion, so we look at this 6.5 assist line as a strong fade.
This number should be 5.5 but with a few recent spikes in assists, we get the benefit of this number moving up. Take advantage of that and add LESS to your card!
DraftKings Pick6 Prediction: Zion Williamson LESS Than 6.5 Assists
Derrick White M/L 2.5 3-Pointers
Boston just suffered one of their worst losses this year at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. This Celtics team cruises no matter where they play games and do serious damage with a heavier rotation of starters in the first half. The biggest reason why the Celtics won’t just lay down is avenging a massive letdown, so expect a healthy dose of outcome from the top.
This is a Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown game, one where the Celtics send a message back to the rest of the Eastern Conference. Jrue Holiday has been bumped up to questionable and was at the am shootaround, which would hurt Derrick White’s ability to get more shots up from deep. The big question around White’s three point performance centers around volume.
The majority of damage done from deep has come at the expense of volume. Sure, White could knock down 3-4 from deep, but he’d need nearly 10 attempts. That’s just not coming in a blowout loss due mostly to the damage dealt by Brown and Tatum.
DraftKings Pick6 Prediction: Derrick White LESS Than 2.5 3-Pointers
OddsShopper’s NBA Tools & Tips
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