The NBA officially returned last night, but today brings us our first full slate of games, with 24 teams in action, among thema highlight matchup between Jalen Brunson's Knicks and Donovan Mitchell's Cavaliers. Another marquee battle features the Mavericks and rookie F Cooper Flagg hosting the Spurs and C Victor Wembanyama.
Below, we'll break down six of the top NBA DFS picks for PrizePicks for Wednesday, including Suns G Devin Booker and 76ers C Joel Embiid.
NBA DFS Picks for PrizePicks: 10/22
Here are the top NBA DFS picks for PrizePicks for today. Player projections via the PrizePicks real money NBA game.
Suns G Devin Booker vs. Kings Projection – 28.5 Points
- Booker has averaged at least 35 minutes per game in each of the last four seasons.
- For his career, the four-time All-Star has a 30.1% usage rate and has shot 46.4% from the field.
- The Suns traded away F Kevin Durant to the Rockets during the offseason. They received G Jalen Green in the deal, but he's out tonight with a hamstring injury.
- Other than Booker, no other healthy player on the Suns averaged more than 15.3 points per game last season.
- The Kings ranked 22nd in defensive rating (115.3) last season.
76ers C Joel Embiid vs. Celtics Projection – 25.5 Points
- Embiid only appeared in 19 games last season because of injuries. He also shot a career-worst 44.4% from the field on his way to averaging 23.8 points per game.
- The big man has played a total of 58 combined games the last two seasons.
- The former MVP appeared in just one preseason game, logging 14 points over 19 minutes against the Timberwolves.
- The 76ers are likely to be very cautious with their superstar center, which means he could be on a minutes restriction out of the gate.
Raptors F/G Scottie Barnes vs. Hawks Projection – 4.5 Assists'
- Barnes averaged 5.8 assists per game last season. The season prior, he posted 6.1 dimes.
- The Florida State alum has averaged at least 33 minutes in all four of his NBA campaign.
- The Raptors and Hawks both ranked inside the top-10 in the league in pace of play last season.
- Barnes could see added opportunities for assists playing alongside F Brandon Ingram, who will take the floor for the first time for the Raptors. He has averaged at least 20.8 points in each of the last six seasons.
Nets G Cam Thomas vs. Hornets Projection – 23.5 Points
- Although Thomas was limited to 25 games last season due to injuries, he averaged 24.0 points.
- Thomas has seen his usage rate increase in each season of his career. Last season, that mark was 32.6%.
- The former first-round pick averaged a career-high 6.0 free-throw attempts per game last season. For his career, he has shot 86.0% from the charity stripe.
- Outside of newly-acquired F Michael Porter Jr., no other current player on the Nets averaged more than 11.0 points per game in 2024-25.
- The Hornets ranked 24th in defensive rating (115.7) last season.
Bulls F Matas Buzelis vs. Pistons Projection – 15.5 Points
- After beginning last season coming off the bench, Buzelis was moved into the starting lineup during the second half.
- The rookie averaged just 5.8 points and shot 42.9% from the field off the bench, but he averaged 13.0 points and shot 47.3% as a starter.
- The Bulls will play Wednesday without G Coby White (calf), who led the team last season by averaging 20.4 points per game.
- Chicago played at the second-fastest pace (103.6) in the league last season, while the Pistons played at the 11th-fastest pace (100.2).
Celtics F Sam Hauser vs. 76ers Projection – 9 Points
- The Celtics traded F/C Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks during the offseason. F/C Al Horford also signed with the Warriors.
- Celtics F Jayson Tatum (achilles) might not play this entire season.
- Hauser is projected to start at power forward with his primary backup being F/C Chris Boucher.
- Despite playing just 22 minutes per game last season, Hauser averaged 8.5 points.
- The fifth-year forward has shot at least 41.6% from behind the arc in every season of his career.
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A 12-game slate means we have plenty of intriguing storylines Wednesday. Booker has the potential to be a usage rate monster against the Kings with Green out. Another superstar in Embiid will also take the floor, but he might not be able to handle his full allotment of minutes for a while. Outside of those big names, Thomas, Buzelis, and Hauser will also look to score in bunches during their season debuts.
With a bevy of projections to consider for Wednesday’s packed schedule, now is the time to build your NBA Lineup on PrizePicks. Just pick More or Less for at least two NBA player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks. Check out the Playbook for more NBA DFS picks and analysis all the way through the season.
