It’s a very quiet slate across the league for Thursday, January 16, with only five games on the schedule. We’re focusing strictly on two — the Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers vs OKC Thunder.
My entries below include the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Garland, Cade Cunningham, and more.
Continue reading my best NBA picks for DraftKings' NBA Pick6.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 Picks for today
The first three picks are our favorite plays for a 3-player lineup. If you want to play a 6-player lineup, use all six stat projections below.
🔼 Cade Cunningham More Than 24.5 Points
🔼 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander More Than 32.5 Points
🔽 Darius Garland Less Than 2.5 Threes
🔽 Pascal Siakam Less Than 21.5 Points
🔼 Jalen Duren More Than 9.5 Rebounds
🔼 Evan Mobley More Than 18.5 Points
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for January 16
Cade Cunningham 24.5 Points: MORE
Cade Cunningham is having his best season to date, averaging 24.5 points, 9.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from 3-point land. The guard has the Detroit Pistons in a Play-In spot almost entirely because of his impressive play.
Cunningham has scored more than 24.5 points in four of his last six games and torched the Knicks for 36 points on January 13, beating Jalen Brunson and Co. at Madison Square Garden. Cunningham is averaging 26 points per game against the Indiana Pacers and 26.5 PPG in seven games in January.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 32.5 Points: MORE
Bold, right? With a total sitting at 32.5 points tonight, you may wonder why I expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to dominate and surpass that number. Well, he scored 31 in a marquee matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers last week and averaged nearly 37 PPG against them last season.
Also, Gilgeous-Alexander has posted more than 32.5 points in three of his last six and had 32 on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost a heartbreaker against the Cavs to end their win streak and will be very motivated to get revenge. That means SGA will lead the way and go off at home.
Darius Garland 2.5 Threes: LESS
Like Cunningham in Detroit, Darius Garland is enjoying a career year for the Cavs. When it comes to his 3-point shooting, he’s draining 42.4% of his triples. Garland is averaging 2.9 makes on 6.9 attempts per night. However, he’s hit less than 2.5 treys in four of his last seven.
The Cavs face the Thunder again tonight and they limited him to 2-for-6 shooting from deep on January 8. At home, Garland averages 3.5 triples per game but that number dips to 2.2 on the road.
Pascal Siakam 21.5 Points: LESS
With Tyrese Haliburton having a down year, Pascal Siakam has emerged as Indiana's leading scorer, averaging 20 PPG. His total fluctuates from week to week and tonight sits at 21.5. He’s only scored more than 21.5 points in three of his last 10.
Siakam has also averaged exactly 20 PPG against the Pistons this season. Detroit is playing well and Siakam has been up and down with his scoring. I’m expecting a quiet one from the ex-Raptors star in Motown.
Jalen Duren 9.5 Rebounds: MORE
Jalen Duren is a strong, physical presence down low, averaging 9.4 rebounds per night, leading the Pistons. Alongside Cunningham, a key reason for Detroit’s respectable start. Tonight, I’m eyeing him to have another big game on the glass.
While Duren has only grabbed more than 9.5 boards in four of his last eight, the ex-Memphis standout is averaging 12.5 rebounds against the Pacers. He’s also averaging 10.3 boards in January and 10.7 at home as opposed to 8.3 on the road. Lock this entry in.
Evan Mobley 18.5 Points: MORE
The Cavs are rolling and everyone is chipping in. That includes Evan Mobley, who has averaged a career-high 19 PPG in ‘24-25. The USC product is on a heater lately, dropping more than 18.5 points in five of his previous seven appearances.
Mobley scored 21 against the Thunder last week and will be looking to replicate that performance as Cleveland visits SGA & Co. He’s playing slightly better on the road as well, averaging 19.6 PPG against 18.4 at home.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
Check back later today for Jon's lineup.
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