Welcome back to the best PrizePicks NBA player predictions. Yesterday was profitable, hitting both Jaylen Brown‘s fantasy score and Khris Middleton‘s assists. However, the Bucks were down by 30 at halftime, and Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t look like himself, keeping us from winning some big money. Today is Taco Tuesday, so keep an eye on the board for some discounted projections to help increase our chances of a big payout. Tonight’s six-game slate tips off in Detroit at 7 p.m. ET with a 240 total for Kings-Pistons. The Mavericks are 8.5-point favorites over the Grizzlies in Dallas, as we got word last night that Ja Morant will have season-ending shoulder surgery. Lastly, we’ll close out the night in Los Angeles with Raptors-Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET and a 235 game total.
Selecting the right projections may be challenging, but with the assistance of OddsShopper’s NBA PrizePicks optimizer and thorough research, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the best PrizePicks NBA picks and player predictions for Jan. 9, starting with Julius Randle. Need more action? Our PrizePicks optimizer has plenty more picks waiting for you to view, and our PrizePicks guide can help you make the sharpest plays possible.
PrizePicks NBA Player Predictions: Julius Randle & More
Julius Randle M/L 41.5 Fantasy Score
The Knicks seem to have benefited from the trade for OG Anunoby, going 4-0 and having the best defensive rating in the NBA during this stretch. Typically known for their defense, the Knicks rank just 15th, as they were in the bottom five in the NBA in the 15 games before the trade. Things are looking up! Who else has benefited from the trade? Julius Randle. Randle has been smashing, scoring 35 points or more in three of the four games with Anunoby. His 20.3 field goal attempts and 7.8 made free throws are impressive, up from his season numbers of 18.3 and 5.4.
Randle gets a favorable matchup tonight against Portland, who will likely be playing without Deandre Ayton, who is doubtful, and possibly three other interior defenders who are normally in the rotation. This is a pace-up spot against a team that allows the most points in the paint over the last 10 games. Randle will smash again for the Knicks, who are 12-point home favorites.
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Julius Randle More Than 28.5 Points
Jaden Ivey M/L 24.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
Jaden Ivey is averaging 17.6 points + rebounds + assists (PRA) in 25.4 minutes and has started 16 games this season. The big news for Detroit is that Cade Cunningham is out after exiting Sunday’s game early. In the second half of that game, Ivey took over the offense, finishing with a 32% usage rate.
In 31 games last season without Cade Cunningham, Ivey averaged 25.5 PRA. In the 15 games as a starter this season, Ivey is averaging 23.5 PRA in 28.7 minutes. Ivey should start tonight, and I expect him to get 32 minutes without Cunningham there.
Taking a look at other books on OddsShopper, we see the early juice is on the over, while some books have this projection at 25.5. We are getting good value for Ivey against the Kings as he’ll have many more opportunities than normal.
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Jaden Ivey More Than 24.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
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Immanuel Quickley M/L 4.5 Assists
Immanuel Quickley is enjoying his new role as a starter for the Raptors. His numbers have skyrocketed since the trade, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 assists in 31.1 minutes per game, up from 15 points, 2.5 assists, and just 24 minutes. Tonight he gets a good matchup against a Lakers team who are just 3-7 with a -1.13 net rating over their last 10 games.
In the four games with Toronto, Quickley has made the second most passes leading to 6.5 assists on 9 potential assists per game. The Lakers rank 19th in opponent assists and have allowed more than 30 assists in two of their last three games. For added assurance, OddsShopper’s Positive EV Bets tool shows us that the juice is heavy on the over ranging from -120 to -149 at other books. A good chance this gets bumped but I still like it at 5.0 and you can also consider more than 22.5 points + assists. Either way, Quickley has a good night!
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Immanuel Quickley More Than 4.5 Assists
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