We have only eight games across the Association on Friday, December 27, but there are a few intriguing matchups.
The Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks head to the desert to face the Phoenix Suns, while the Denver Nuggets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The L.A. Clippers and Golden State Warriors clash in Southern California as well.
Below are my best NBA picks for DraftKings’ Pick6 as I put together the best lineup for tonight's 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.
? Andrew Wiggins More Than 16.5 Points
? Darius Garland More Than 19.5 Points
? Nikola Jokic More Than 1.5 Threes
? Jamal Murray Less Than 6.5 Assists
? Jusuf Nurkic Less Than 10.5 Rebounds
? Klay Thompson More Than 16.5 Points
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for December 27
Andrew Wiggins 16.5 Points: MORE
Andrew Wiggins has bounced back for the Golden State Warriors in 2024-25 after a complicated 2023-24 season. The veteran missed time due to personal issues, which may have affected his production on the court, as he averaged just 13.2 points. This season, however, Wiggins is putting up 17.5 PPG on 42% shooting from 3-point land.
While the former first-overall pick has only registered more than 16.5 points in three of his last five games, Stephen Curry is out tonight due to knee soreness. On top of that, Draymond Green may not play, either. That means Wiggins will have an increased role. Plus, he’s averaging over 25 PPG in two appearances this season against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Darius Garland 19.5 Points: MORE
It’s been a revenge season for Darius Garland. He’s played an integral part in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ brilliant campaign, putting up ridiculously efficient numbers of 20.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds on 44.4% shooting from 3-point land.
Garland has dropped more than 19.5 points in back-to-back appearances, scoring 23 against the Jazz and 26 against the 76ers. He also scored 24 points earlier this season against tonight’s opponent, the Denver Nuggets. I expect the guard to show out.
Nikola Jokic 1.5 Threes: MORE
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic may not attempt many triples, but they’re going in more than half of the time when he does. The Joker is shooting a mind-boggling 51.4% from beyond the arc this season and has drained more than 1.5 treys in four straight games and seven of eight.
Cleveland is solid defensively but opponents are shooting 37% from long range. Given the trends, I see no issues with Jokic sinking at least two 3-pointers tonight in Ohio.
Jamal Murray 6.5 Assists: LESS
While Jokic is the main playmaker for Denver, Jamal Murray is also a respectable facilitator. He’s averaging 6.1 assists on the season. However, he’s dished out less than 6.5 in five of his last six outings, barely surpassing that total in his December games.
The Cavs are fantastic at limiting assists, ranking ninth in the Association. They’re also allowing an average of 21 dimes across their last three contests. Murray had six assists earlier this season against Cleveland and averages just 5.8 versus Eastern Conference opponents.
Jusuf Nurkic 10.5 Rebounds: LESS
Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic is mostly known for his ability to grab rebounds, but I’m not expecting that to happen at a high level tonight. He’s collected less than 10.5 boards in five of his last seven appearances.
While he is averaging 11.4 rebounds at home, Phoenix faces the Dallas Mavericks tonight, who are fifth in the league in rebounding. I believe they will keep him at bay in the desert.
Klay Thompson 16.5 Points: MORE
Luka Doncic is out for a month with a calf injury, which means more opportunities for others on this Dallas roster — most notably Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. We’ll focus on Klay here, who has been a solid addition to the Mavs.
Although he’s scored less than 16.5 in three straight, Thompson dropped more than tonight’s total in four consecutive contests before that. Again, Luka is out, and that’s a lot of offense to make up for. Klay was once a guy who regularly showed out for 20+ per night. He’ll benefit from the bigger load.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
Took a Less on one of my favorite players in the NBA (Jalen Suggs) for the @Pick6 lineup because nobody is safe when it comes to winning units.
— Jon Metler (@JonMetler) December 27, 2024
?? Pascal Siakam
?? Bradley Beal
?? Jaylen Brown
?? Norman Powell
?? Jalen Suggs
?? Jeremy Sochan https://t.co/LiXuFHIwYp pic.twitter.com/4X2KUWqx90
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