PrizePicks for February 16

It’s always pleasing when the NBA gives us more than three or four games on a Tuesday slate. Especially since we learned early Monday about a game postponement for Tuesday (SA/DET) due to health protocols. Even with the return of postponed NBA games to our lives, there is a bright spot as of this writing. The NBA has announced this morning that this coming Friday they will add a game to the schedule (DEN/DET) to replace one that we already lost due to health protocols (DEN/CHA). To my knowledge, this is the first time the league has added a game in place of a postponement this year, and I appreciate their effort to maximize the number of games able to be played safely.

The fact that we can lose a game on a Tuesday and still have six star-studded games to choose from on the board at PrizePicks shows that the NBA is continuing their work to balance the schedule throughout a given week. Enough of my rambling, let’s get into some PrizePicks plays.

If you aren’t familiar, I bet you’re wondering just what the heck is PrizePicks? There’s no shortage of outlets to look for different kinds of fantasy action as we roll along through this NBA season, and after being introduced to PrizePicks a few months ago, it has quickly become a part of my DFS routine. This season, I will be stopping by twice a week to discuss what’s on the board on the app that is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots to get some hoops action.

PrizePicks is a creative new way to parlay picks based on expected fantasy point production.

The format is simple. PrizePicks will set fantasy point lines for select players and then you choose between two and five players to go over or under their given projection. Naturally, the more players you put into your parlay, the larger the payout! You can enter a “Power Play,” where you must get every pick in your parlay correct to get paid out. Another option is a “Flex Play,” where your payout changes depending on the number of picks you got correct.

• Two-player “Power Play” entry pays 3x and “Flex Play” pays 2x for both correct and 0.5x for one correct
• Three-player “Power Play” entry pays 5x and “Flex Play” pays 2.25x for three correct and 1.25x for two correct
• Four-player “Power Play” entry pays 10x and “Flex Pay” pays 5x for four correct and 1.5x for three correct
• Five-player entries are only eligible for “Flex Plays” and pay out 10x for five correct, 2x for four correct and 0.4x for three correct

Tuesday’s first game locks at 7 p.m. ET on PrizePicks. Note that these lines can shift throughout the day leading up to lock just like a spread or moneyline on a game. They will also occasionally add players as the day goes on if injury news changes the outlook for a team. Tag me in the PrizePicks Discord channel up until lock if you want a second pair of eyes on a parlay you’re considering or for help on lines that may have changed since this writing.

Scoring breakdown for PrizePicks contests can be found here.

My 2020-21 PrizePicks record

• Picks overall: 101-73
• Favorite combos: 22-31
• Longshot 5-way parlays:
  • 10x: 2
  • 2x: 5
  • 0.4x: 6
  • No cash: 5

Feb. 16 PrizePicks

NBA

• Jamal Murray (32.0 points) – OVER
• Jonas Valanciunas (36.0 points) – OVER
• Lonzo Ball (31.0 points) – UNDER
• Kyle Anderson (29.0 points) – OVER
• Kyle Kuzma (25.0 points) – OVER
• Hamidou Diallo (31.0 points) – OVER
• Chris Paul (38.0 points) – OVER
• Jae Crowder (22.0 points) – OVER
• Luguentz Dort (25.0 points) – UNDER

Favorite combinations

• Kyle Kuzma (o25.0), Chris Paul (o38.0)
• Jamal Murray (o32.0), Luguentz Dort (u25.0)
• Kyle Anderson (o29.0), Hamidou Diallo (o31.0)
• Jae Crowder (o22.0), Lonzo Ball (u31.0)

Power play payout: 3x
Flex play payout: 2x for two correct, 0.5x for one correct

Favorite longshot five-way flex play of the day

I’m not a huge fan of doing the largest offering of a five-way parlay on a daily basis, but if I was to run one out there today on PrizePicks, here’s what I would throw in.

• Kyle Kuzma (o25.0), Lonzo Ball (u31.0), Jae Crowder (o22.0), Kyle Anderson (o29.0), Chris Paul (o38.0)
  • Flex play payout: 10x for five correct, 2x for four correct, 0.4x for three correct