NBA PrizePicks Predictions for October 22: DiVincenzo, Holiday, James 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 a weak 2-game slate on tap to open the NBA season. It’s great to have basketball back in our lives, even if these small slates tend to feel a little anticlimactic. Don’t get too comfortable though, because we’re looking at a banger of a 10-game slate to follow on Wednesday.
PrizePicks Top NBA Plays for October 22
- Donte DiVincenzo MORE/LESS Than 12.5 Points
- Jrue Holiday MORE/LESS Than 22.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
- LeBron James MORE/LESS Than 32.5 Points + Assists
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Timberwolves vs. Lakers PrizePicks Predictions
Donte DiVincenzo MORE/LESS Than 12.5 Points
I’ll forgive you if you’re the type who doesn’t keep up with NBA news over the summer. You were probably spending time digging into the SIERA of Tylor Megill, or something. I get it. In case you hadn’t heard, Donte DiVincenzo is now a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves after a blockbuster trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. DiVincenzo (and Julius Randle) will debut for Minnesota tonight when they take on the Lakers in LA.
The Big Ragu had a breakout season last year for the Knicks, as he averaged a career-best 15.5 points per game after injuries pressed him into a larger-than-expected role. However, we’re not projecting him to start for the Wolves. With Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards entrenched as the starters on the wing, we’re projecting DiVo to play 24 minutes off the bench in his first outing with the team. He saw a usage uptick for the Knicks last season, but he was essentially the No. 2 offensively behind Jalen Brunson after Julius Randle went down with an injury and RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were traded to Toronto. DiVincenzo won’t be nearly as featured offensively for Minnesota, and he’s likely to get most of his offensive opportunities as a spot-up shooter.
The Lakers are likely to be poor enough defensively to where DiVincenzo can make us pay, but LESS THAN 12.5 points looks like the way to go here given his expected role. Both our RG NBA projections and the new ShotQuality projections have him closer to 10 projected points in this one.
- PLAY: DiVincenzo LESS Than 12.5 Points
Knicks vs. Celtics PrizePicks Predictions
Jrue Holiday MORE/LESS Than 22.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
The Celtics won it all last season, and they’ve essentially run it back with the same group this year. Boston will be without the injured Kristaps Porzingis for tonight’s opener against New York, but this rotation will otherwise look quite similar to the one we saw consistently dominate a season ago. Jrue Holiday proved to be a useful addition, though he played a smaller offensive role than he had previously with the Bucks.
In his first year in Beantown, Holiday contributed averages of 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He’s still one of the game’s better on-ball defenders at point guard, but we only care about his statistical production here. That scoring average was Jrue’s lowest in a season since his rookie year with the 76ers over a decade ago. His 16.8% usage rate was the lowest of his career. Holiday was actually sixth on the team in usage behind the other 4 starters and backup Payton Pritchard.
In what’s expected to be a slow-paced matchup against a stout defensive Knicks team, I’m not expecting Holiday to stuff the stat sheet. Assuming he plays a role similar to the one he played last season, Jrue to finish with LESS than 22.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists stands out. In 5 games against New York last year, Holiday averaged 11.6 points, 4.6 boards, and 3.2 dimes.
- PLAY: Holiday LESS Than 22.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
Timberwolves vs. Lakers PrizePicks Predictions
LeBron James MORE/LESS Than 32.5 Points + Assists
LeBron James will turn 40 in December, yet he’s still showing few signs of slowing down after leading Team USA to a gold medal at the Olympics over the summer. That said, leading the Lakers to glory this season will be a far more daunting challenge. Los Angeles replaced Darvin Ham with JJ Redick this offseason, but this is another team that didn’t make too many moves to overhaul the roster.
So, LeBron and Anthony Davis will be tasked with dragging this roster to the playoffs once again. James averaged 25.7 points and 8.3 assists a season ago, which was his highest assist average in 4 years. The Wolves were the league’s stingiest defense last year, ranking first in the league in D-rating. LeBron will presumably have his hands full in this matchup, and buckets in the paint won’t be easy to come by with Rudy Gobert still protecting the rim.
This one will be a legit sweat – James is fully capable of topping 32.5 points + assists on points alone – but I’m not a fan of the matchup. Let’s roll with LESS THAN 32.5 points and dimes for The King in this one.
- PLAY: James LESS Than 32.5 Points + Assists
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