NBA PrizePicks Today: Picks & Predictions – October 25
The first week of the NBA season is in full flight, and it continues Friday night with 10 games on the slate. The matchup of the evening will be when the Suns take on the Lakers in one of the two late games at 10:00 p.m ET, but there’s plenty more exciting matchups on tap.
Below, we will preview games on the NBA DFS slate, plus injury news, NBA projections, and picks and predictions for NBA Friday on PrizePicks. You can find today’s full NBA DFS Projections on the PrizePicks app.
Don’t forget to be on the lookout on the @PrizePicks socials for today’s NBA player discounts on the PrizePicks board as part of the Back to Buckets promotions running during this week.
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NBA Picks, Predictions for PrizePicks Today
Find game previews, NBA injuries, and PrizePicks picks and projections below.
Hornets vs. Hawks: Preview, Time, TV
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets will be hitting the court in an early-season division showdown. Despite the teams being on opposite ends of the league in pace (the number of possessions a team has in a game), the Hawks and Hornets had four high-scoring games last season.
In each game last season, at least one team scored at least 120 points and the games averaged 224.75 total points. With two of the best point guards in the league in Trae Young and LaMelo Ball leading the way, expect this one to be another shootout.
Warriors vs. Jazz: Time, How to Watch, Location
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass
Similar to the above matchup, this matchup between the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors is expected to be another high-scoring affair. In four meetings last season, each team scored at least 107 points while the Warriors scored at least 118 points in their season sweep of the Jazz.
Last year, both teams finished in top-12 in pace, with the Jazz ranking 10th and the Warriors ranking 11th. The big change here is the Golden State’s roster, as they sent Klay Thompson to the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade.
The current Warriors starting lineup will have its offensive issues with spacing, but their bench will provide lots of sparks with Buddy Hield and Brandon Podziemski spearheading the scoring as we saw in Wednesday’s game against the Blazers. The Warriors scored 140 points, with Hield pouring in 22 points in 15 minutes.
Hornets G LaMelo Ball vs. Hawks: 34 Points+Assists — More
It was a hot start to the season for Ball who dropped 34 points and 11 assists in his season opener against the Houston Rockets. Houston was a top 10 defensive rated team last season, opposed to the Hawks who were bottom five.
Since Ball will have Young guarding him, he will look to attack his defensive liability. With Brandon Miller already ruled out due to a left glute strain, the star guard of the Hornets will likely see more usage tonight.
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Nets G Cam Thomas vs Magic: 24.5 Points — Less
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the worst teams in the NBA. Everyone knows the team is tanking for the number one overall pick in the 2025 Draft and have coveted assets on the team that will likely get flipped at the trade deadline. Teams also know that one player will be doing the bulk of the scoring for the Nets and that is guard Cam Thomas.
This matchup will be a nightmare for the Nets, the opposite of how they felt against the Hawks in their opener where the team saw ample open scoring opportunities. Orlando has length at every position and even forcing a switch onto a larger defender will cause problems for them.
Not only were the Magic a top-five defense in the league last season, they also were elite against shooting guards allowing 20 points per game which might prove tonight will be a tough one for the Nets guard.
Bucks F Giannis Antetoukounmpo vs. Bulls: 40.5 Points+Rebounds — More
Bucks superstar loves playing against the Chicago Bulls. In all four matchups last year, he cleared the 40 points and rebounds projection against Chicago. While the Bulls were about league average in points allowed to power forwards, they were top three in rebounds allowed.
Chicago will be starting Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams, so those will be the two players who will likely see the most time guarding Giannis. Neither player is known to be outstanding defenders.
If Chicago keeps up a similar pace they played with last season (third in the league), there will be ample opportunities for scoring and boards for Giannis. It doesn’t hurt for Giannis’ rebounding upside that C Brook Lopez is banged up and could miss this game.
Suns G Tyus Jones vs. Lakers: 4.5 Assists — More (Goblin)
Tyus Jones makes a drastic jump going from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns brought him in to be the primary ball handler after experimenting with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal as primary ball handlers last year with lackluster success.
Last season, the Lakers allowed the third-most assists to point guards. With this star-studded matchup and a coach who likes to push the pace in Mike Budenholzer, Jones should be able to clear this projection with ease.
Note: Goblin picks have a reduced payout as they are easier to hit.
NBA Injuries Today for DFS
Below, you’ll find the NBA Injuries for October 25, as well as players who could benefit with additional minutes and production for NBA DFS on PrizePicks.
- 76ers center Joel Embiid and forward Paul George will both be out again against the Toronto Raptors. Embiid and the Sixers are currently being investigated for the team’s health management protocols. With both their stars being out, look for guard Tyrese Maxey to take the bulk of the scoring. SF Caleb Martin — who played 37 minutes in the season opener — is probable and should see big minutes again.
- Warriors PG Stephen Curry (hip contusion) and PF Draymond Green (knee contusion) are questionable for tonight’s game. SG De’Anthony Melton (chest contusion) is also questionable, making this a tough go for the Warriors. If either Curry or Melton or out, G Brandin Podziemski will see some ball handling duties. If Green is out, it will open up more minutes for F Kyle Anderson, and potentially SF Buddy Hield as others are forced to shift around. Definitely keep an eye on this starting lineup.
- Pelicans PG Dejounte Murray (hand) will miss 4-6 weeks after hand surgery. Well have to see how the Pelicans shuffle their starters, but PG Jose Alvarado should soak up the bulk of Murray’s minutes and may get the starting nod. However, CJ McCollum could move to PG, which would be a significant boost for his usage. Jordan Hawkins will also be more involved in the guard rotation after picking up 28 minutes in the opener.
- Raptors forward RJ Barrett is out while guard Immanuel Quickley is doubtful with a pelvis injury. PF Kelly Olynyk (back) is also out. Forward Scottie Barnes will be spearheading the offense and should get plenty of usage. If Barnes struggles again, second-year forward Gradey Dick will be the one getting opportunities. In the front court, rookie Ochai Agbaji and Jakob Poeltl should soak up additional minutes without Olynyk.
- Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) will remain out on Friday, which should open up more minutes for Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen WIlson, and Cam Johnson.
- Magic PF Jonathan Issac (hip) is questionable for Friday after was limited on Wednesday. PF Mo Wagner should see some extra minutes in his stead, but more significantly, PF Paolo Banchero will play more minutes.
- Knicks PF Precious Achiuwa and C Mitchell Robinson are still out. A ton of minutes are open in the front court, which should keep PF OG Anunoby on the floor, and C Jericho Sims some additional bench minutes.
- Hawks SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) is out today. It should open up additional minutes for SG Dyson Daniels, who will be needed for most of the game. SG Vit Krejci could also see additional minutes off the bench after playing 11 minutes against Brooklyn.
- Rockets C Steven Adams (calf/knee) is out. Alperen Sengun should see some additional minutes, with Jock Landale getting insignificant minutes off the bench at the 5.
- Grizzlies PF Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring) is doubtful. F Santi Aldama will continue to soak up minutes without Jackson. He scored 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the season opener.
- Bulls PG Lonzo Ball (injury management) will sit out on Friday after playing 14 minutes in the opener. Josh Giddey and Ayo Dosunmu will get his minutes. Dosunmu already played 25 minutes off the bench in the season opener.
- Bucks SF Khris Middleton (ankle) will remain out today. C Brook Lopez (quad contusion) is questionable. Gary Trent Jr. (34 minutes) and Taurean Prince (30 minutes) filled in for Middleton last game. If Lopez is out, Bobby Portis will likely start at center, which could open up even more minutes for Prince to play the 4.
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Lock In Your NBA Lineups on PrizePicks
The NBA season is underway, and it’s time to lock in on the action by using PrizePicks — the easiest way to get real money action on NBA fantasy sports.
There’s no salary or position restrictions like on other NBA DFS sites. On PrizePicks, just choose more or less on at least two player projections like the ones above and build your squad.
Use PrizePicks to build a Lineup of your NBA picks and check out the Playbook daily for more NBA picks.
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