The NBA’s return for this homestretch to the playoffs features a packed slate today.
An ABC doubleheader in the afternoon leads into an ESPN doubleheader tonight, and my NBA picks for DraftKings’ Pick6 will focus on that latter doubleheader on Sunday, February 23.
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.
🔼 Jaden McDaniels more than 15.5 points
🔼 Naz Reid more than 19.5 points
🔼 Isaiah Hartenstein more than 10.5 rebounds
🔼 Andrew Wiggins more than 16.5 points
🔼 Ja Morant more than 1.5 threes
🔽 Chet Holmgren less than 14.5 points
Click on each pick to read full analysis.
DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball lineup for February 23
Jaden McDaniels 15.5 points: MORE
Jaden McDaniels slipped into a bad habit on Friday at Houston, relying on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. In particular, he struggled from the corner. It simply is not his shot.
Taking six of his seven 3-pointers without dribbling is not how McDaniels excels best. When Julius Randle strained his adductor at the end of January, McDaniels saw more time as a power forward in the Timberwolves lineup. He also became more aggressive. Rather than relying on catch-and-shoot chances, McDaniels drove into the paint.
In the eight games following Randle’s injury until the All-Star Break, McDaniels averaged 17.5 points, a full seven more than he averaged before Randle’s injury.
Getting back to that aggressive shot selection will spur McDaniels tonight.
Naz Reid 19.5 points: MORE
Naz Reid’s role also increased in Randle’s absence. In the 47 games before Randle’s injury, Reid averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds. Reid has averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds in the nine games since.
Without Randle and quite possibly without Rudy Gobert tonight (back spasms lately), the Timberwolves frontcourt becomes Reid, McDaniels, and too many minutes of Luka Garza. An increased Reid workload is an absolute necessity.
Even on Friday, when Reid was held to fewer than 34 minutes because of questionable foul calls, he scored 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting. That is quickly becoming Reed’s floor, having scored at least 20 points in six of his last eight games.
Isaiah Hartenstein 10.5 rebounds: MORE
If the Timberwolves are without Rudy Gobert tonight, trusting Isaiah Hartenstein to secure at least 11 rebounds should be the easiest choice of the night. He's found 11 or more rebounds in 21 of his 35 games this season, including four of his last five.
Chet Holmgren may be available nowadays, but his workload is limited, and he is far from a physical force on the glass. That is why the Thunder chased Hartenstein in the summer.
Naz Reid can collect many rebounds, and Jaden McDaniels is an underappreciated contributor finding boards. But without Gobert, Minnesota will be left quite vulnerable to Hartenstein.
Andrew Wiggins 16.5 points: MORE
In the last month of games — stretch back to Jan. 16 to account for the All-Star Break — the Milwaukee Bucks’ defensive rating sits at No. 19 in the NBA. That is respectable enough on the surface, but it hides some Milwaukee realities.
A defense with Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetotkoumpo should never rate so lowly. It is that simple.
The Bucks do, anyway, because their perimeter defense is rather non-existent. Not that Damian Lillard is an exemplary defender, but while he is day-to-day with a balky hamstring, Milwaukee started AJ Green and Ryan Rollins at guard on Friday.
In the last few weeks, Tyrese Maxey scored 39 against the Bucks, Nick Smith Jr. went for 23, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 34, Desmond Bane notched 22, and Stephon Castle eased his way to 20 points.
Tyler Herro is day-to-day with a shoulder concern, leaving the Heat possibly without their best backcourt bucket. But that creates an opening for Andrew Wiggins to star with his new team tonight.
Ja Morant 1.5 3-pointers made: MORE
This is a buy-low opportunity. Ja Morant has gone 1-for-10 from beyond the arc in his last two games. But those were against Indiana and Orlando. The Pacers rank No. 9 since Jan. 1 in number of 3-point attempts allowed per game, while the Magic rank No. 1. Morant was struggling to get up looks because of these specific opponents.
He will have much less to worry about at Cleveland, ranking No. 15 in this wonder.
Morant has hit multiple 3-pointers in 17 of his 34 games this season. He is not yet a true threat from deep, shooting only 30.7% from long range this season, but Morant remains willing to take them. He pulls up from deep 4.9 times per game, the same rate as his last full season — let’s just ignore the nine games in 2023-24.
Morant’s early-career reluctance to shoot from deep was a flaw. He has slowly countered that and should continue to do so tonight.
Chet Holmgren 14.5 points: LESS
Chet Holmgren’s return from his pelvic fracture is proceeding slowly. He's broken 30 minutes in four games only once, doing so by just five seconds against the Timberwolves in the last game before the All-Star Break.
In his four games, Holmgren has scored more than 12 points just once, on Friday at Utah.
Holmgren’s workload may not reach any hefty status at any point this season; it's simply a reality of trying to get back into shape with fewer than 30 games remaining. Oklahoma City enjoys a deep roster with a pile of athletic and physical wings that take some of the emphasis off the 7-foot-1 Minneapolis native.
The Thunder will not need to overwork Holmgren. Against the Timberwolves, Reid, and McDaniels are both deceptively strong, making Holmgren a bit more uncomfortable when trying to get past them to the hoop.
Jon Metler's DraftKings NBA Pick6 lineup for today
The sunglasses tan line is coming in hot in the Florida sun 😂. The @Pick6 lineup for Sunday.
— Jon Metler (@JonMetler) February 23, 2025
⬆️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
⬆️ Andrew Wiggins
⬆️ Davion Mitchell
⬆️ Chet Holmgren
⬆️ Cole Anthony
⬆️ Klay Thompson https://t.co/PDLWvC7Ptf pic.twitter.com/nI3RH0tBHn
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