Best PrizePicks NBA Player Picks Today: Value on Westbrook, Anthony, and Brooks
7 games populate the NBA schedule on this fine Wednesday, and, as usual, we’ve got no shortage of PrizePicks squares from which to choose. There’s always value to be found if you know where to look, so let’s dive in with a few of our top plays on the day.
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NBA PrizePicks Predictions Today
Russell Westbrook More Than 23.5 Fantasy Points
Russell Westbrook certainly isn’t at the stage of his career in which he’s dropping 60 fantasy points a night any longer. That said, the Clippers’ guard is still quite active while he’s on the floor. The issue, of course, is that he’s on the floor less than he’s been in years.
The Clips decided to shuffle Russ to the bench a few games ago in order to better accommodate James Harden. After averaging a shade under 31 minutes per game through the season’s first 10 games, Westbrook is logging about 22 minutes a night since moving to the bench. Our projections have him at 25 minutes tonight when the Clippers visit the Kings.
He’s still putting up a stellar 1.12 FP/min average overall this season, though, and he posted a double-double in the last game despite playing 27 minutes. This isn’t the most comfortable play given Westbrook’s volatile minutes, but 23.5 fantasy points is still fairly low for a player as productive as he is.
- Play: Westbrook – More Than 23.5 Fantasy Points
Cole Anthony More Than 15.5 Points
If you haven’t heard this, I hope you’re sitting down. The Washington Wizards are bad at basketball. There, I said it. They’re particularly bad at the defensive aspect of the game. Washington comes into tonight’s clash with the Magic in Orlando ranked a grim 29th in defensive efficiency. The only team more porous on that end of the floor thus far is the Pacers, though the Wiz could drop into the bottom spot tonight with another of their patented dismal showings.
The Magic are still playing without Markelle Fultz, which opens up extra opportunities for Cole Anthony off the bench. Anthony never needs an excuse to let it fly, and he predictably ranks among Orlando’s usage leaders (26%) so far this season. He’s often tasked with captaining the second unit, a role into which he’s long since settled with aplomb over the past few years. Anthony is averaging exactly 15 points per game on the season, but he’s up to 17.8 points over the last 6 games. Anthony’s minutes have also been more stable with Fultz out, as he’s logged 25 or more off the bench in each of those 6 outings.
The Magic aren’t the most dynamic offensive team, but their implied team total tonight of 122 points is the highest on the entire slate. It’s also well north of their season average. There should be points to go ‘round for this team tonight, and I’d expect Anthony to be heavily involved, as usual.
- Play: Anthony – More Than 15.5 Points
Dillon Brooks Less Than 12.5 Points
The Rockets have been arguably the league’s most pleasant surprise this season, as they’re near the top of the league in defensive efficiency and playing competitive basketball on a nightly basis. One of the main reasons for their resurgence on the defensive end of the floor has been Dillon Brooks, who is thriving now that he’s out of Memphis.
It’s easy to forget now, but Brooks was actually a pretty impressive scorer early in his career. He averaged a career-best 18.4 points per game for the Grizz just two seasons ago. He’s a different guy now, though, as he’s not asked to do much more than spot up from behind the 3-point line offensively. Brooks’ usage rate (18.8%) is the second-lowest of Houston’s starters, and his 10.2 field goal attempts per game is his lowest output since his second year in the league.
Tonight, Brooks and the Rockets have the rather unenviable task of going into Denver and facing the reigning champs on the second half of a back-to-back. Houston is a fairly heavy underdog in this game, and a blowout is certainly a realistic outcome if the Nuggets get some of their regulars back from injury. The Rockets’ 103.75 implied team total is pretty easily the lowest on the entire slate, and our PrizePicks prop tool isn’t too keen on Brooks to have a big game on the offensive side of the floor.
- Play: Brooks – Less Than 12.5 Points