Seven games are on the NBA schedule tonight, and two of my entries will focus on Tyrese Maxey and Russell Westbrook as the Denver Nuggets visit the Philadelphia 76ers.
I’m also expecting another big game from Cade Cunningham as his Detroit Pistons clash with the Dallas Mavericks.
Keep reading for my best NBA picks for DraftKings’ 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.
🔽 Tyrese Maxey less than 31.5 points
🔼 Russell Westbrook more than 12.5 points
🔽 Jason Tatum less than 25.5 points
🔽 Chris Paul less than 8.5 assists
🔼 Klay Thompson more than 2.5 three-pointers
🔼 Cade Cunningham more than 27.5 points
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for January 31
Tyrese Maxey 31.5 Points: LESS
Tyrese Maxey is having a phenomenal season for the struggling Philadelphia 76ers as their only healthy star. He’s averaging 27.1 points per night in 39 games.
However, Maxey has scored less than 31.5 points in five of his last seven games.
The last time he faced Denver, the guard registered 28 points. This total is a little too high for me.
Even though Maxey is averaging nearly 30 ppg in January, he’s scored less than that number more often than not as of late.
Russell Westbrook 12.5 Points: MORE
Russell Westbrook has carved out a solid role in his first season with the Denver Nuggets. While he was coming off the bench for most of the season, head coach Michael Malone has slotted him into the first unit over the last month as Russ continues to build impressive chemistry with Nikola Jokic.
The veteran has put up more than 12.5 points in four consecutive outings, dropping 14, 14, 13, and 18. He owns season averages of 13.3 ppg and has also averaged 15.3 points per contest in January. Westbrook is also playing heavy minutes right now (Over 30 in three of last four), so this entry is worth a look.
Jayson Tatum 25.5 Points: LESS
Jayson Tatum is the best player for the defending champion Celtics, but he’s struggling lately. The Duke product has failed to score more than 25.5 points in seven games in a row, arguably his worst spell of the campaign. Tatum is averaging 23.4 ppg in January.
Yes, he will break out of this eventually, and tonight may be the night. After all, Tatum dropped 38 on the Pelicans the last time Boston faced them. However, I’m more comfortable taking this entry, despite New Orleans’ defense being terrible.
Chris Paul 8.5 Assists: LESS
Chris Paul has been the perfect addition to a young Spurs squad. He’s formed a wonderful partnership with Victor Wembanyama and continues to facilitate the rock at a high level, just like he always has in his long NBA career. Paul is averaging 8.2 assists per night in 44 appearances.
That being said, he’s dished out less than 8.5 dimes in six of his last eight contests. The Spurs take on the Bucks tonight, who are Top-10 in fewest assists allowed per game. CP3 had just seven assists against them earlier in the month, too.
Klay Thompson 2.5 made 3-Pointers: MORE
He wasn’t a part of the Splash Brothers for nothing. Perhaps Klay Thompson isn’t the elite 3-point shooter he once was, but the guard can still make it rain at times from long range. Klay is averaging 3.1 makes on 7.8 attempts per game for a 39% clip this season for the Mavericks. He’s shooting a season-best 43% in January.
Thompson has taken a ton of triples across his last two games, going 6-for-11 and 7-for-12 from deep. You can expect that to continue, given how confident he is from downtown at the moment. Draining more than 2.5 treys feels like a lock.
Cade Cunningham 27.5 Points: MORE
Cade Cunningham is balling out for the Pistons, who have already surpassed last season’s win total. The ex-Oklahoma State standout is averaging a career-high 25 ppg and has been on an absolute heater as of late. Cunningham has scored more than 27.5 points in four of his last five, scoring 30+ in all but one of those games.
He also tends to play better against Western Conference teams, averaging exactly 27.5 ppg. For what it’s worth, Cunningham also showed out for 33 in one appearance against the Mavericks in the 2023-24 campaign.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
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