Best PrizePicks NBA Player Picks Today: Value on Duren, Claxton, and Valanciunas
We’ve got a full slate of action on tap for Wednesday following Tuesday’s tiny 3-gamer. Please note the Warriors-Jazz game has been postponed, but we’ve still got 9 other games from which to choose our PrizePicks squares.
If you’re new to the site, be sure to take advantage of our special PrizePicks promo code. With the code “GRINDERS,” you can claim a 100% match bonus on your first deposit of up to $100.
Remember, you can also keep tabs on the best PrizePicks picks of the day with our Fantasy Pick’em Tool. We’re constantly updating this throughout the day in order to account for the latest news, but there’s still value to be found earlier in the afternoon as well.
NBA PrizePicks Predictions Today
Jalen Duren More Than 31 Fantasy Points
This season has been an abject failure for the Pistons, but Jalen Duren has been one of the few (only?) bright spots. The 2nd-year center is averaging 14.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and a block in a shade under 30 minutes per game. Duren has quickly become a building block amid what has become a seemingly endless rebuilding process in Detroit.
Tonight, the Pistons will look to start a rare winning streak when they host the T-Wolves. Minnesota has tailed off lately on the heels of a terrific start to the season, but the Pistons are still listed as heavy 12-point underdogs. It isn’t the easiest of spots for Duren against Rudy Gobert and friends, but we still have him projected to play 31 minutes. There’s room for growth in that projection if the Pistons can somehow keep the game close.
Duren has been extremely productive (1.15 FD FP/minute) all year, and our projections like him to top 31 fantasy points even against a formidable defensive foe.
- Play: Duren – More Than 31 Fantasy Points
Nic Claxton More Than 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
The Nets are about as mid as it gets, as evidenced by their woeful 16-23 record this season. This team just doesn’t have the star power to keep pace with some of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, though they are currently clinging to the last play-in spot. They’re in a virtual tie with Atlanta, while the Raptors are lurking not too far behind.
Nic Claxton likely wouldn’t crack anybody’s list of the top 10 centers in the league right now, but he has become a reliable starter for Brooklyn over the past couple of seasons. In addition to serving as a solid rim protector, Claxton is also contributing averages of 12.1 points and 10 rebounds per game. He’s one of 13 players averaging a points and rebounds double-double this season.
Claxton’s Nets will head west for a date with the lowly Blazers tonight. Portland is just 28th in rebound rate, though the numbers are a bit skewed considering Deandre Ayton has missed a significant portion of the year due to injury. Ayton — who is expected to play tonight — won’t solve all of the Blazers’ interior woes upon his return, but he will provide a boost when healthy.
Still, Claxton should feast in this spot regardless of Ayton’s status. Portland is down to 22nd in defensive rating this season, and they’re highly unlikely to finish as high as they are now.
- Play: Claxton – More Than 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
Jonas Valanciunas Less Than 23.5 Points + Rebounds
After resting most of their starters against Dallas over the weekend, the Pelicans are expected to be back near full strength when they host the Hornets tonight. Charlotte has been an exploitable matchup for opposing centers all year, so this is a good on-paper spot for Jonas Valanciunas.
However, JoVal’s minutes have been declining since Larry Nance returned from injury. Valanciunas is averaging 26.6 minutes per game this year, but he’s down to just over 22 minutes per game so far in January. Meanwhile, Nance is playing about 20 minutes per game off the bench.
While Valanciunas is typically efficient while he’s out there, he’s not a major source of usage in an offense that features Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum. Valanciunas is averaging about 22 points + rebounds per game so far this month. This will be a sweat, but our model is quite confident in this being the correct route.
- Play: Valanciunas – Less Than 23.5 Points + Rebounds
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