The NBA All-Star Game is trying yet another new format, pitting four teams in a miniature tournament, each of the three games being played to 40. That short score may be the most important piece to know heading into tonight.
My NBA picks for DraftKings’ Pick6 on Sunday, February 16, focus on a few stars who could quickly clear their stat projections, given their limited time to produce.
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.
🔼 Stephon Castle more than 6.5 points
🔼 Anthony Edwards more than 10.5 points
🔼 Karl-Anthony Towns more than 5.5 points
🔼 Dalton Knecht more than 6.5 points
🔽 Amen Thompson less than 6.5 points
🔽 Tyler Herro less than 4.5 points
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for February 16
Stephon Castle 6.5 points: MORE
The NBA All-Star Game can be maddening to handicap, particularly with its brand new format this year. The only thing that seems certain is the Rising Stars roster will play hard. They already won a similar tournament on Friday to advance to the Sunday night festivities.
Spurs rookie Stephon Castle led the way, shooting 8-for-14 on the night — most notably scoring 12 points in the final — that game played to only 25.
Looking at the Rising Stars roster, Castle is the only true point guard. He should have the ball in his hands with both frequency and urgency.
Anthony Edwards 10.5 points: MORE
No one in the NBA is shooting better from beyond the arc this season than Edwards. While he turned down the 3-Point Contest, claiming standing still and shooting is not his style, the chance to hit some stepbacks against lackadaisical defense will certainly appeal to Edwards.
He's hit 41.4% of his 3-pointers this season while taking 10.1 per game. That was not all a strong start to the year; in the last month, Edwards has made 39.9% of his 10.8 three-point attempts per game.
Give Edwards a few open looks tonight, and this stat projection should be cleared easily.
Karl-Anthony Towns 5.5 points: MORE
Towns has starred on All-Star weekend before, winning the 2022 3-Point Contest and scoring 50 points in the 2024 game. The best-shooting big man of all time is designed for this offensive showcase.
Chuck’s Global Stars have plenty of scoring thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Donovan Mitchell, but they lack shooting. Trae Young likely will not play all that much; an injury replacement and presumably behind SGA and Mitchell in ball-handling duties.
With Jokic in the paint, Towns should space the court. A pair of threes will be all Towns needs.
Dalton Knecht 6.5 points: MORE
This is entirely a grudge play. No one in the NBA has more to prove right now than Dalton Knecht, traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Charlotte Hornets, only to have the Lakers so bothered by Mark Williams’s physical that they rescinded the trade.
Knecht now knows what that locker room thinks of him. And tonight, he has a chance to disprove that narrative directly in the face of the Lakers’ shadow GM, LeBron James.
Knecht had seven points in the Rising Stars semifinal on Friday. He should repeat that tonight, even if the Rising Stars are likely to lose to the NBA’s veteran superstars.
Amen Thompson 6.5 points: LESS
Thompson was an addition to the Rising Stars roster after Friday’s games, an attempt to add some depth to what was a seven-man roster before it plays at least one more game to 40, if not two.
Logic says Thompson will remain a depth piece, playing a bit less because he was not part of what earned this Sunday night entry.
Furthermore, Dalton Knecht should take touches away from Thompson, both because he is more proven and because everyone in the arena will know Knecht has a chip on his shoulder tonight.
Tyler Herro 4.5 points: LESS
Tyler Herro had his All-Star Weekend moment, winning the 3-Point Contest on Saturday night. Undoubtedly, he enjoyed that win in style in San Francisco.
Even beyond the possibility that Herro is a bit worse for wear tonight, the Young Stars roster does not lack for shooting, with Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Darius Garland all on it, all also in the 3-Point Contest last night.
That does not even mention Anthony Edwards, who might not let the ball out of his hands often. Simply enough, Herro should not get a bounty of touches tonight.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
Check back soon for Jon's entry.
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