We are now more than a fifth of the way through the NBA season, and some significant takeaways are starting to emerge. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who were once undefeated, suffered their first loss last night to the Celtics and will be looking to bounce back against the deeply injured New Orleans Pelicans tonight. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers aim to dig out of their 2-11 start against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey potentially sharing the floor for the first time. Additionally, the Indiana Pacers play the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks face the Phoenix Suns, the Milwaukee Bucks square off with the Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Orlando Magic to headline the eight-game slate. There are numerous options for what to watch and even more opportunities to get involved in the action. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!

Unlock the Potential of DraftKings Pick6 with Sean Barnard's Selections

Donovan Mitchell - More Than 3.5 Made Three-Pointers

Donovan Mitchell has been a key force in the Cavaliers' impressive start to the season. He is averaging a whopping 25.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. With Cleveland coming off their first loss, expect Mitchell to be hungry and in attack mode. His three-point production is also remarkable, averaging 3.7 made three-pointers per game and shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc. He attempts 9.1 three-point attempts per game, which is about on par with his typical output. Mitchell has made four or more three-pointers in seven of the 15 games this year and has made at least one three-pointer in every game. He shot just 3-11 from beyond the arc last night after a 35-point performance. With Darius Garland out due to an ankle injury, Mitchell will have even more on his plate offensively. Look for him to get up plenty of perimeter shots and record more than 3.5 made three-pointers for the eighth time this season.

James Harden - Less Than 22.5 Points

The final game of tonight's slate is between the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic. Orlando has been holding opponents to the fewest points per game and ranks fifth in opponents' field goal percentage. Jalen Suggs leads the stingy defense and will likely match up with James Harden. While Harden has been solid this season, he has regressed in recent games. Through 15 games, he is averaging 20.1 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game but shooting just 37.2% from the floor and 31.1% from beyond the three-point arc. He has been held to less than 22.5 points in 10 of the 15 games and below 20 points in seven games. The former MVP has been relying more on his playmaking in recent games, with 27 assists over the past two, but not in attack mode as often. Both teams rank in the bottom 10 in pace, so there won't be many additional offensive opportunities. Expect Harden to be bothered by the Orlando defense and produce fewer than 22.5 points again tonight.

Alperen Şengün - Less Than 11.5 Rebounds

Alperen Şengün has had a rocky start to the season. Despite getting an off-season extension, he is recording fewer minutes, points, and assists compared to last year. Rebounding has been his standout area, with 11.0 rebounds per game, a career-high. However, he has been held to fewer than 11.5 rebounds in nine of the 15 games. In this matchup against the Pacers, who play an up-tempo style, Şengün's minutes may be further reduced. He has been limited to as few as 20.5 minutes in a game and had 26 or fewer minutes in five separate games. There won't be many opportunities for him on the floor due to the stylistic clash. While Indiana is not a great rebounding team, 11.5 rebounds is a tall order for Şengün. Expect him to fall short of this number for the 10th time this year.

Tyus Jones - More Than 20.5 Points, Assists, & Rebounds

The Phoenix Suns are set to face the New York Knicks tonight in one of the more notable matchups. Both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are out due to calf injuries, forcing Tyus Jones into a larger role. Jones has been making the most of this opportunity, averaging 11.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game and playing 32.5 minutes per game, which ranks fourth on the team. In the six games Durant has missed, Jones has averaged 13.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. He has recorded more than 20.5 points, assists, and rebounds in seven of the 15 games overall. Against the Knicks, Jones will continue to have an elevated offensive role. He shoots the ball well, knocking down 37% of his three-point attempts and attempting a career-high 5.4 long-range shots per game. Jalen Brunson is not a bad defensive matchup for him. Expect him to be heavily involved and record more than 20.5 combined points, assists, and rebounds in this game.

Karl-Anthony Towns - More Than 25.5 Points

The New York Knicks have overcome some early difficulties and seem to be on track. Karl-Anthony Towns has been at the center of the team's production, averaging 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He has exceeded 25.5 points in five of the past seven games, and the offense has found a way to incorporate him. This is a great matchup for Towns against the Phoenix Suns, who allow 112.9 points per game and rank 17th in the NBA. Jusuf Nurkic is questionable with an ankle injury, and if he can't play, his absence will only magnify the Suns' issues. Expect Towns to continue his scoring streak and record more than 25.5 points again as he has a great opportunity against this Suns defense.

Evan Mobley - More Than 1.5 Blocks

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped their first loss of the season but have a good chance to get back on track tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are missing all five of their expected starters due to injury. Evan Mobley will take advantage of this opportunity to establish his rim-protecting presence against young players who have tried him at the rim. So far this season, Mobley is averaging 1.5 blocks per game and has averaged 1.4 or better in every season. He has tallied two or more blocks in seven of the 15 games. Expect Mobley's 7-foot-4 wingspan to make an impact and be a nuisance to the Pelicans. He is one of the premier shot blockers in the league and will showcase this in this matchup.

Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.

Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group. For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must select players from at least two different teams.

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

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