NBA Winners From Downtown: 12-19-15

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

- Clippers-Rockets is the obvious high scoring game to target, with a 213 total, and Houston being just one point favorites.

- With the Bulls going four overtimes last night, I am not high on many of them. Most played over 45+ minutes, with the main guys over 50. On the back-to-back, I would not be surprised to see them lean on Joakim Noah, and Nikola Mirotic. Noah is still safe for 22-25 minutes anyway, but if he can sneak into the 30's, he will be an excellent value play.

- Hornets-Wizards has a total over 200, which ranks as my favorite offensive game behind Houston.

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $8,500 DK: $7,800

I will say I am baffled by the prices of the Clippers on DraftKings. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin can easily be fit into your lineups tonight. Paul has looked like his old self, averaging 17-11-3 in the last six games. Houston is allowing the 10th most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season. Paul has two or more steals in the last four games, and Houston allows the third most steals per game to opposing point guards. Paul missed their first matchup, but averaged 17-10-3 in four games against them, with 2.3 steals. Points-per-dollar he is your best option tonight.

Salary: FD: $10,700 DK: $10,700

James Harden delivers the safest floor of any shooting guard tonight, especially on such a small slate. Harden dropped 46 real points against L.A. earlier this season, and although it is asking a lot for him to do that again, he has averaged 27-6-5 in the last six games. Harden has the highest usage rate on the slate, and you can lock him for another high minute, high usage game. Both these teams play fast paced basketball, and anytime they get together, the fantasy production runs wild. There are no other shooting guard options I am looking at for cash games above the $5,000 mark.

Salary: FD: $4,500 DK: $5,300

Matt Barnes continues to draw starts, and continues to be a lock for being a top value play. SF is not my favorite spot tonight, as it only features Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. Neither are in tremendous spots, and I rather pay down. Barnes is averaging 11 and 6, with 2.7 blocks+steals per game in the last seven. He is shooting 46%, which is nice given he is not much of an offensive volume guy. Memphis has a oddly high team total tonight, but for his price, especially on FanDuel, Barnes ranks as one of the better plays at small forward.

Salary: FD: $9,200 DK: $8,800

$8,800 for Blake Griffin? Okay... Griffin went 35-5-11 against Houston earlier this season, but the game was without Chris Paul. Griffin is averaging 22-4-9 in the last five games, shooting 48% from the field. Houston has been horrendous against power forwards this season, allowing the second most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards. They are allowing a 51% field goal percentage to opposing PF, so expect Griffin to be the focal point of the offense, as he has all season.

Salary: FD: $6,600 DK: $6,300

The Hornets are beat up down low, and it has shown. They are allowing the 5th most fantasy points to opposing centers in the last ten games. Charlotte ranks 19th in rebound differential, as Marcin Gortat is gobbling up 10 rebounds per game in the last five games. It took some time, but the emergence of Gortat has arrived for 2015-2016. He is averaging 14 and 10 in the last five games, shooting 56% from the field. He offers a safe floor tonight, without taking the risk on guys like Dwight Howard, and DeAndre Jordan. He is by far my favorite center option tonight.

Value Plays

Jeremy Lin (PG - CHA) FD: $5,100 DK: $5,000

I do like Jeremy Lin much more of Nicolas Batum sits, but either way he has been playing upper 20's in minutes. He is averaging 15-2-3 in the last five games, shooting 48%. Washington has allowed the 5th most fantasy points to opposing guards this season.

Rodney Stuckey (SG - IND) FD: $4,700 DK: $4,500

I do like J.J. Redick as a value shooting guard, but talking about another game for a change, Rodney Stuckey is a guy I like as well. Stuckey has shot 45% or higher in the last four games, and is coming off two 25+ fantasy point games. He is a bit streaky, which is what you are going to get with cheap shooting guards anyway. Stuckey has a 21% usage rate off the bench.

Marvin Williams has not been as reliable as he was earlier in the season, but he is in a great spot tonight, and is still logging minutes near 30. He is averaging 10 and 7 on the season, and dropped 14 and 11 on Washington earlier this season. Washington has allowed the 12 most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards.

Joakim Noah (C - CHI) FD: $4,900 DK: $5,100

Joakim Noah is a lock for 22-25 minutes, but I am hoping with last night's four overtime game, we see Gasol and Gibson take a back seat for some rest. Noah only 26 minutes last night. Noah is averaging 4-5-9 in the last six games, with 1.7 blocks per game. He is a solid start either way, but I am looking for that upside tonight.