PrizePicks NBA Player Picks Today: Value on Booker, Doncic, and Mitchell
We’re back on this fine Wednesday with a solid 8-game NBA slate. There’s no shortage of injury news out there, so be sure to keep an eye on Twitter (X, whatever) for updates throughout the afternoon.
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
Devin Booker Less Than 42.5 Fantasy Points
At long last, we’re going to get a look at the Suns’ newfangled “Big 3” tonight when they host the Timberwolves. Devin Booker is set to return after missing several games with a calf injury. He’s only played in 2 games all season, and this will be the first time he starts next to both Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant.
Booker is the kind of guy who hasn’t historically played with minutes limits even after coming back from injuries. However, this calf ailment is already the second lower-body issue he’s dealt with this season after he was bothered by a bad toe earlier in the year. We do have Booker projected for 33 minutes tonight, but there’s certainly a chance the Suns take it even easier on their franchise cornerstone.
Because we haven’t seen all 3 stars together yet, we don’t fully know how the usage will shake out. It’s fair to assume Beal will settle into a role as the No. 3 option, but his presence alone is enough to take at least a little bite out of the usage rates of both Booker and KD. Phoenix also faces a difficult on-paper matchup tonight against a T-Wolves team currently leading the league in defensive rating.
Given all of those factors, taking Booker to finish with less than 42.5 fantasy points looks like the way to go on PrizePicks tonight.
- Play: Booker – Less Than 42.5 Fantasy Points
Luka Doncic More Than 55 Fantasy Points
The Mavs endured a weird blowout loss in New Orleans last night, and they’ll have to face the Wizards in DC tonight on the second half of the back-to-back. Luka Doncic is fresh off of easily his worst game of the year, finishing with just 16 points and 8 turnovers in 26 extremely ineffective minutes.
Even with the rough travel schedule, this is a fine bounce-back spot. Luka is still averaging a ridiculous 1.51 FP/min on the year, and there’s a chance the Mavs will be without Kyrie Irving in this one. Kyrie was added to the injury report with a questionable tag this morning with a foot issue. Doncic is already the Mavs’ usage leader at around 35%, but he could finish closer to 40% tonight if Irving is out.
This matchup is also a terrific one against an exploitable Washington defense that ranks just 24th in defensive efficiency. In related news, the Mavs’ 125.75 total is the highest on the entire slate. There’s a chance Luka’s fantasy point total comes up if Kyrie does get ruled out, which is why taking him to top 55 earlier in the day makes for a fine try.
- Play: Doncic – More Than 55 Fantasy Points
Donovan Mitchell More Than 48 Fantasy Points
Donovan Mitchell will be all the rage in traditional DFS tonight, but there’s also value on Spida over on PrizePicks. The Cavs will be without Darius Garland tonight in Portland, which means Mitchell will effectively run point for Cleveland in this one.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Mitchell has been a smash play in the games Garland has missed. So far this season, Mitchell leads the team in usage (34.3%) with a stellar 1.33 FP/min average with Garland off the bench. His 27.5% assist rate also leads the Cavs across a 189-minute sample. Mitchell and the Cavs draw an elite matchup here against a Blazers team playing its second game in two nights. Portland is actually 10th in defensive efficiency on the season, but it’s fair to expect some serious regression in that regard moving forward.
Mitchell will have the ball in his hands constantly, and we have him projected for 37 minutes. The Cleveland backcourt isn’t only missing Garland, as all of Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, and Isaac Okoro are also out. Even if the Cavs win this one going away, Mitchell should see enough playing time to surpass 48 FPTs.
- Play: Mitchell – More Than 48 Fantasy Points