NBA Winners From Downtown: 1-30-16

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

- Every game on the slate today has a 200 total or higher. HOU-WAS is your highest at 217.

- There are no blowout concerns tonight, so fire away as you please.

- Brooklyn-New Orleans does not have a total yet, as they wait on Davis news, but this is my second favorite game to target regardless of the total. Both teams are abysmal on the defensive side.

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $7,000 DK: $7,100

John Wall is your top pick tonight, but I am not forcing him into my lineups, especially given I rather pay up for James Harden. Holiday is a safe play with or without Anthony Davis tonight, but I definitely prefer him without. He has a 34.8% usage rate in games without A.D., averaging 21-5-4. He is averaging 17-4-7 in 13 games this month, most of those coming with A.D. So not very concerned. Brooklyn has allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, and also allow the most steals per game. Holiday is a great play tonight.

Salary: FD: $10,100 DK: $10,100

James Harden is the superstar I want tonight, and is the first player to slide into your lineups. Coming off of another monster game, Harden delivered, even with Dwight Howard semi-back. He is averaging 29-8-9 in the last six games. Harden had one of his highest scoring games against Washington earlier this season, going for over 70 fantasy points. The prior history is nice, but there is no real surprise here, as Washington has allowed the second highest FG% to opposing SG. With Harden's peripheral stats arriving at an elite level again, he is a must-play for me tonight.

Salary: FD: $7,300 DK: $8,200

I am definitely fine with fading Kawhi Leonard on DraftKings, but FanDuel he is way too cheap, and it is also easier to create a roster with the studs tonight. Spurs have a solid 103 total, and Kawhi will finally be involved in a game that stays close. He has not played a meaningful/close game since the last time San Antonio took on LeBron James, where Leonard dropped 20-10-5. Tough matchup on paper, but Leonard has shot over 50% from the field against the Cavs in his career, averaging 35 fantasy points per game. I love Trevor Ariza tonight, but on FD with two SF, and softer pricing, both are easy plays.

Salary: FD: $6,200 DK: $6,900

We are all on Anthony Davis watch at the moment, and if he sits, Ryan Anderson becomes the top PF play tonight. Anderson saw a 27.7% usage rate last game, which is ideal for the sharpshooting power forward. He gets a great matchup with Brooklyn, who have allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to opposing PF. Anderson is also shooting 6% higher at home this season, and 8% higher from three. With no other power forwards on the slate worthy of paying up for, Anderson is the top option. If Davis plays, the $6,200 on FD is still not bad with his role off the bench.

Salary: FD: $8,100 DK: $7,100

We have been riding the DeMarcus Cousins train of late, but he is just a GPP play for me today. You could argue the same with Lopez and his consistency, but the matchup is too good to pass up. New Orleans has allowed the second most fantasy points per game to opposing centers, and rank 23rd in rebound differential. Lopez finishes second in usage among today's centers, of course behind Cousins. Coming off of a 28 and 12 game, it is not unrealistic for him to duplicate those numbers tonight against a bad Pelicans' defense.

Value Plays

Donald Sloan (PG - BKN) FD: $4,400 DK: $4,800

I prefer Tony Parker and Norris Cole (If Evans is out), but Donald Sloan is there if you need him for a little cheaper. In the right matchup, Sloan has been a great value point guard of late. New Orleans has allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, and Brooklyn leans more on Sloan than any other point guard on the slate.

Trevor Ariza (SF - HOU) FD: $5,700 DK: $5,500

Trevor Ariza's average play for most of the season has led to these prices, but now he is in the midst of a great stretch, so take advantage of it. He is averaging 16-4-2 in the last five games, tacking on 2.3 steals per game. Small forwards have torched Washington this season, allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards. They have allowed a 47% field goal percentage, so that should also help Ariza's 41% on the season.

Myles Turner (PF/C - IND) FD: $5,100 DK: $5,300

Shout out to Frank Vogel, realizing what Myles Turner has done, and putting him in the starting lineup. The rookie put up 20-6-1 in 26 minutes last game, drawing the start with a fully healthy front-court. Turner is averaging 18 and 6, with 2.6 blocks per game in the last five. He gets a great matchup against Denver, who have allowed the second most fantasy points per game to opposing PF.