With just three weeks left in the NBA season, former role players and rookies are getting their chance to shine.
Today’s DraftKings Pick6 picks focus on a pair of Blazers who have come on strong in recent games and a Spurs rookie who has dazzled since joining the starting five.
Keep reading for my best NBA picks as I break down Sunday’s eight-game slate.
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.
🔼 Scottie Barnes more than 5.5 assists
🔼 Stephon Castle more than 30.5 points+rebounds+assists
🔼 LaMelo Ball more than 22.5 points
🔽 Cade Cunningham less than 26.5 points
🔼 Deni Avdija more than 33.5 points+rebounds+assists
🔼 Shaedon Sharpe more than 25.5 points+rebounds+assists
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for March 23
Scottie Barnes 5.5 assists: MORE
Scottie Barnes leads the Raptors with 5.9 assists per game this season, and though his numbers in that category have fallen off slightly, he’s in a great position to finish with More than 5.5 on Sunday.
The Spurs have allowed the most assists per game across the last 10, and Barnes should see more work as a playmaker with Immanuel Quickley sidelined. Barnes has gone for more than 5.5 assists in more than half of his games this year, reaching that mark in 29 of 55 appearances.
Stephon Castle 30.5 points+rebounds+assists: MORE
Stephon Castle has been on a tear since joining the Spurs’ starting lineup full time. Over the last five games, he’s averaged 21 points, four rebounds, and 5.6 assists and gone for more than 30.5 PRA two times.
He also posted totals of 28 and 30 PRA in that span. The Raptors’ defense has shown clear improvement over the last month, but this is far from an elite defense. Castle — who leads his team in Usage Rate over the last month — should have no problem reaching at least 31 PRA.
LaMelo Ball 22.5 points: MORE
LaMelo Ball is averaging a career-high 25.4 points per game this season, so a below-average game will get him to more than 22.5 points here.
He scored more than 22.5 points in 32 of 45 games this season. Ball posted 32, 27, and 15 points against the Heat across three meetings and this line is set far too low, making it an easy selection for my Pick6 entry.
Cade Cunningham 26.5 points: LESS
The Pelicans have allowed 119.3 points per game this season. Over the last 10, that number has risen to 122.6. Cade Cunningham has scored more than 26.5 points in 30 of 66 games and only 11 of 31 at home, where he averages 24.7 points compared to 26.6 on the road.
The Pistons blew out the Pelicans by 46 when they met in New Orleans last week, and Cunningham finished with just 24 points. Detroit is favored by 11.5, and it could be another blowout. I’ll bet on him finishing with less than 26.5 points in what should be a comfortable win for the Pistons at home.
Deni Avdija 33.5 points+rebounds+assists: MORE
Deni Avdija has been on a roll over the last six games, averaging 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. In that span, he went for more than 33.5 PRA four times.
Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe have been doing it all for the Blazers over the last two weeks, and I don’t see that trend ending against Boston on Sunday. With Jerami Grant listed as doubtful, Avdija’s usage and production should get a further bump.
Shaedon Sharpe 25.5 points+rebounds+assists: MORE
Shaedon Sharpe has started 12 straight games for Portland and averaged a healthy 18.5 points, six rebounds, and 3.1 assists in that span. Over his last 12, Sharpe has gone for more than 25.5 PRA seven times, including a 25/6/2 performance at Boston.
The Blazers will likely be without Jerami Grant, and Anfernee Simons is questionable, offering Sharpe additional opportunities to score, rebound and facilitate.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
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