NBA PrizePicks Predictions for November 1st: Hachimura, Poeltl, Westbrook Make Top Plays
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into some of the top picks for the upcoming NBA slate on PrizePicks. Most predictions are heavily based on projections, but you can find an extra edge if you happen to know ball too.
PrizePicks – one of the most popular pick’em DFS sites – provides player projections for NBA matchups each day. The ball is then in our court to decide whether a player will ultimately exceed or fall short of those projections in the games. With a huge roster of players available from which to choose, we just need to make a minimum of two picks to build an entry. And if you haven’t signed up yet, you can grab a special offer with our PrizePicks promo code “GRINDERS” to get $50 on a $5 entry!
We’ll break down the board by looking at factors like usage rates, projected pace, lines in the sports betting market, and of course, our RotoGrinders projections to forecast how players might fare in categories like points, rebounds, and assists. For even more alternatives when making your PrizePicks picks, be sure to check out our fantasy pick’em tool.
We’ve got quite a busy schedule on tap for the NBA this Friday night. It looks like a fun one, with several high-total games featuring reasonably tight point spreads. With a full slate of squares available over at PrizePicks, there’s money to be made out there. Let’s do just that to ring in the weekend.
PrizePicks Top NBA Plays for November 1
- Rui Hachimura More/Less Than 25 Fantasy Points
- Jakob Poeltl More/Less Than 33.5 Fantasy Points
- Russell Westbrook More/Less Than 8.5 Points
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Lakers vs. Raptors PrizePicks Predictions
Rui Hachimura More/Less Than 25 Fantasy Points
The Lakers are off to a 3-2 start in their first season under new head coach JJ Redick. LA didn’t make too many roster changes over the summer, which means Redick is working with largely the same rotation we saw last year under Darvin Ham.
One difference is that Redick seems to have more faith in Rui Hachimura than Ham did. Rui started just 39 of his 68 games played last season, but he’s entrenched as LA’s starting power forward this year. He’s played well, averaging north of 15 points and 7 rebounds on prolific 57% shooting from 3-point range. Most importantly, Hachimura is averaging over 34 minutes per game this year after playing just 26 a night on average a season ago.
Given the new role and the elite matchup against a poor, injury-riddled Raptors club, Rui looks likely to easily surpass 25 fantasy points.
- PLAY: Hachimura MORE Than 25 Fantasy Points
Raptors vs. Lakers PrizePicks Predictions
Jakob Poeltl More/Less Than 33.5 Fantasy Points
As mentioned, the Raps are a little banged up at the moment. Toronto will be without Scottie Barnes, Bruce Brown, and Kelly Olynyk again against the Lakers, while Immanuel Quickley is doubtful after suffering a groin injury back on opening night.
Jakob Poeltl isn’t typically a high-usage option in this offense, but he’s been thrust into a significantly bigger role because of the injuries. Poeltl has logged exactly 35 regulation minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s attempted at least 13 field goals in both. Most of Poeltl’s looks are easy ones right around the rim, which explains how he’s shooting 63% over those two outings combined.
The Lakers haven’t been the most convincing defensive team this season. The 9-point spread indicates there is some blowout risk, but I’d still expect Poeltl to see close to a full complement of minutes with the team so shorthanded. At least 34 fantasy points isn’t too much to ask here.
- PLAY: Poeltl MORE Than 33.5 Fantasy Points
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves PrizePicks Predictions
Russell Westbrook More/Less Than 8.5 Points
Russell Westbrook has officially reached the journeyman stage of his career, and this season he’s popped up in Denver as the backup point guard. Even though he’s now 35 and clearly on the downside of his career, Westbrook still isn’t lacking in confidence. Russ is averaging more than 9 field goal attempts per game despite averaging just under 20 minutes per game off the bench.
Efficiency has never been Westbrook’s strength, and he’s predictably struggling in that regard again this year. He’s shooting a woeful 27% from the field, but he’ll never stop letting it fly. Westbrook should be particularly confident tonight after putting 22 points on the board in a victory in Brooklyn in the last game.
He certainly has a wide range of outcomes in the scoring department (just look at his game logs), but I’ll bank on Westbrook to be his usual aggressive self in what could be a high-scoring game against the Wolves.
- PLAY: Westbrook MORE Than 8.5 Points
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