NBA Winners From Downtown: 1-22-16

Winners From Downtown is bringing the top daily picks for your cash games, alongside some value plays, and Vegas notes. Be sure to check out our minutes tool, and Colossus lineup optimizer.

Projections show DraftKings prices and fantasy points.

Vegas Notes

- Pacers-Warriors (218), Rockets-Bucks (208), Thunder-Mavs (206), Bulls-Celtics (205), and Knicks-Clippers (205) are your Vegas games to target tonight. Warriors are 13 point favorites in this one, while the other games are close spreads.

- Spurs are 15.5 point favorites tonight against the Lakers, and while Pop may not rest certain players, they will likely see less than 20 minutes of play, much like last night. On a full slate, just avoid.

- Jazz, Magic, and Hornets all have lower totals compared to the other teams tonight, but are great teams to target for value.

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $9,800 DK: $9,800

Chris Paul just ranks a little less than Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, who are the preferred choices, but have a very hefty price tag. Constructing lineups this morning I have found myself needing that extra $800 or so, and pivoting to Paul. He is averaging 22-10-5 in the last four games, with a whopping 3.5 steals per game. Paul has a 30% usage rate without Blake Griffin, and is averaging 20-11-5 without him. With so much value at the forward and center spots tonight, locking Paul and Harden into your lineups seems to be the way to go tonight.

Salary: FD: $9,900 DK: $10,000

With Dwight Howard ruled out tonight, there will be no reason for James Harden to force the ball down low. He has a 35% usage rate without Howard this season, compared to 32% with Howard. Harden exploded for a monster 33-14-17 game. He was fairly average before that game, so you could say he is back on the map. Vegas has Houston at 105, and Milwaukee has allowed 103 points per game. You can count on Houston being one of the top scoring offenses tonight, and Harden being a big part of it. Milwaukee ranks in the middle of the league in fantasy points allowed per game to opposing SG, and have allowed a pedestrian 42 FG%.

Salary: FD: $6,800 DK: $6,500

You have the obvious Paul George and Kevin Durant plays tonight, but Jae Crowder has been a staple of mine over the last month or so. He is averaging 18-2-5, with 2.5 blocks+steals per game this month. (11 games) 30-35 fantasy points is always about right for Crowder, which is why I love him at this price. You know what you are going to get. Chicago ranks 9th against opposing SF for fantasy points allowed per game. Crowder has averaged 15-2-3, with three steals per game against Chicago in two games this season. Once again, right around that 30 fantasy point mark.

Salary: FD: (PF) $8,500 DK: (C) $8,400

Pau Gasol is going to be locked into my lineups tonight, even at his higher price tag. His fantasy points per minute have been consistent all season, actually higher than James Harden's believe it or not. Gasol is averaging 15-2-10, with 2.8 blocks+steals per game in the last five games. He has averaged 16-4-16 in two games against the Celtics this season, which is no surprise. Boston has allowed the 13th most fantasy points per game to opposing centers, and rank 20th in rebound differential. With plenty of value on the slate, Gasol should fit fairly easily.

Salary: FD: $6,400 DK: $6,100

On FanDuel, where Pau Gasol is not center eligible, Zaza Pachulia is sitting at a very nice price. Pachulia has been very consistent, averaging 10-2-11 in ten games this month. He has also 2.0 blocks+steals in those games. He has also had some noteworthy home-away splits this season, averaging six more fantasy points at home, and shooting 7% higher. Zaza is in a good spot tonight to grab tons of rebounds, and tack on a few points. With some injuries up top, center is not the position to spend heavily at tonight, outside of Gasol on DK.

Value Plays

Jeremy Lin (PG - CHA) FD: $5,200 DK: $5,100

Nicolas Batum is already ruled out tonight, and Jeremy Lin will step into the shooting guard spot with the starters. In five games without Batum this season, Lin has averaged 20-3-3, playing 36 minutes, and shooting over 50%. He also saw a 24.2% usage rate in that span. If you are looking to pay down at your second PG spot, Lin is a great option.

Wesley Matthews (SG - DAL) FD: $5,000 DK: $5,000

Wes Matthews is logging big minutes, averaging 37 in the last five games, which is good given he is not a great fantasy points per minute player. He needs all he can get. He is averaging 12-2-4 in the last five games, and is in the midst of a shooting slump. (40%) OKC has been fairly average against shooting guards this season.

Clint Capela (PF - HOU) FD: $4,800 DK: $5,600

No Dwight Howard tonight, which means Terrence Jones and Clint Capela will shoulder the workload. I prefer Capela, due to his consistency in this spot. He has averaged 9 and 9, with 2.5 blocks+steals in seven games without Howard. He went 10 and 13 when Howard went down last game, and the Bucks struggle against opposing big men. They rank 24th in rebound differential, and rank in the bottom half against PF/C.

Myles Turner (PF/C - IND) FD: $4,200 DK: $3,900

Ian Mahinmi is questionable tonight again, and if we get news he sits, Myles Turner becomes a great value play. Turner is PF on FD, and C on DK. He has 40 real points in the last two games, adding in 11 boards, and six blocks. Golden State has allowed the 8th most fantasy points per game to opposing centers, so the matchup is not against him here.