“Wake up, wake up, wake up…it’s the first of the month!” A little Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to start off December on a good note in hopes for a profitable month ahead. Welcome back to the best NBA PrizePicks predictions, Friday edition. We have a six-game slate tonight that tips-off with everyone’s favorite team, the Washington Wizards visiting the second place Orlando Magic! Yes, at 14-5, the Magic sit second in the Eastern Conference and look to dominate the Wizards for the second time in three days. With the highest total on the night at 237.5, I’ll be looking at some overs for the Magic today, starting with Franz Wagner.
Picking the right projections can be a tough task, but with the help of OddsShopper’s NBA PrizePicks Optimizer and some diligent research, we have you covered. Let’s dive into the best PrizePicks NBA picks and player projections for Friday.
PrizePicks NBA Player Predictions | Dec. 1
Franz Wagner M/L 37.5 Fantasy Score
Franz Wagner dominated the Wizards on Wednesday, leading the Magic with 31 points on 11 of 14 shooting. He also contributed three assists and six rebounds in the 19-point blowout win. He tallied 43.7 fantasy points in 30.2 minutes before getting pulled because of the blowout.
On the season, he’s averaging 1.05 fantasy points per minute, but without Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr. he’s at 1.10. Those two are still out, and in a pace-up spot that I think will be more competitive than the last game, he gets more than 37.5 tonight. For an added bonus, Paolo Banchero rolled his ankle in the third quarter of the last game and didn’t return. He’s listed questionable for tonight, and if he’s unable to go, Wagner to the moon!
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Franz Wagner More Than 37.5 Fantasy Score
Jalen Suggs M/L 28 Fantasy Score
Another play from the Orlando Magic, Jalen Suggs stands out. Over the last two weeks, Suggs is averaging 1.05 fantasy points per minute. This is a pace-up spot in fantasy heaven against the Wizards. With Suggs’ ability to get steals and blocks at the guard position, his fantasy score is most appealing, as you get three points for each of those stats on PrizePicks. Suggs played 28 minutes in Wednesday’s blowout and likely would have gone over 30 if it were a bit closer. Although the Magic are 11-point home favorites, I’m expecting this game to stay a little closer because of recent familiarity. It’s very rare that when two teams play back-to-back the result is exactly the same. As mentioned earlier, there is a chance Paolo Banchero will sit this one out, giving Suggs more opportunities to pad his stats.
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Jalen Suggs More Than 28 Fantasy Score
Dereck Lively II M/L 9.5 Rebounds
Dereck Lively II gets a nice matchup against the depleted Memphis Grizzlies tonight. Lively is averaging 7.8 rebounds at home this season, but 8.6 over his last five games. He leads the team with 14.5 potential rebounds per game but what’s important here is that Luka Doncic was ruled out for tonight. Luka averages 8.1 rebounds on 12.9 potential rebounds per game. That’s a lot of rebounds up for grabs. In the 33 minutes Livley has played without Luka on the court, his rebound percentage jumps from 16.4% to 21.7%.
Memphis has the worst field goal percentage in the NBA at just 42.7%. Not surprising, they rank 25th in opponent rebounds allowed at 45 per game. I’m banking on Lively taking advantage of some extra opportunities in a game with a lot of bricks.
Best PrizePicks NBA Player Prediction: Dereck Lively II More Than 9.5 Rebounds
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