NBA Winners From Downtown: 2-2-16

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

- Great slate of games tonight, all with totals over 200. Knicks-Celtics being the highest.

- Raptors are 9.5 point favorites tonight, but it is not really screaming blowout for me there.

- The game in New York and Phoenix look to be your high paced games of the night, with Minnesota-L.A. in between, and Portland-Milwaukee being the slowest. (Yet still not bad)

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $9,000 DK: $8,700

I am overlooking the fact Kyle Lowry took a giant crap on the rug last night, and will let him roam around the living room yet again. Lowry is in another great spot tonight facing Phoenix, in an up-tempo matchup against one of the worst defenses in the league. They have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, and also allow 2.4 steals per game. Lowry is averaging 2.3 steals on the season, so you could see a big defensive game from him tonight. Lowry is averaging 20-4-4 in the last six games, and of course it is hard to praise his consistency after a 20 fantasy point game, but he has been in the last ten. Keep a short memory, and lean on Lowry again tonight.

Salary: FD: $7,900 DK: $7,300

Surprise? Not the shooting guard you were expecting tonight from this game? As good as Harden has been of late, Dwyane Wade is in a better spot tonight. The Heat have allowed the 2nd fewest fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards, while Houston has allowed the 5th most. Wade is averaging 23-4-6 in the last five games, shooting 50% from the field. He has eight steals in the last three games, and his attacking nature seems to be back. Points-per-dollar, he creates a high floor/upside play, and also helps even out lineups tonight. While Harden still may out score him tonight, I don't see it being by more than 10 fantasy points.

James Harden - With the news of Dwight Howard being suspended coming out right after I clicked publish, Harden becomes the clear-cut number one option. He is averaging 27-7-8 in ten games without Howard this season. We have seen those effects in the last few games Howard missed with the minor injury.

Salary: FD: $9,000 DK: $8,400

Carmelo Anthony has dominated the Celtics so far this season, going 29-10-4 in the first matchup, and then scoring 17-4-3 before leaving with an ankle injury in the second matchup. (17 minutes) No surprise there, as Boston has allowed the 8th most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards, and could be without Jae Crowder tonight. This would mean Melo versus Evan Turner. Melo is underpriced for the upside he brings, and is a safe cash game option as well. With the highest total on the night, and the previous two games' scores, it will be tough to fade him. He is averaging 17-7-4 in the last four games, but has that Charlotte dud mixed in there. He has scored 40+ fantasy points in six of the last ten.

Salary: FD: $5,200 DK: $5,300

While Chris Bosh is your top option at PF by default, I am not inclined to pay up here. Jabari Parker has been seeing monster minutes, as all the Bucks' starters have, and Parker has been consistently hitting your typical cash game value. He is averaging 12-7-1 in the last six games, shooting 57% from the field. That is about 27 fantasy points per game on average. He gets a nice matchup against Portland, who have allowed the 12th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards. Parker has averaged 14-4-1 on 11 second nights of a back-to-back, shooting 53% from the field. This should help ease your stomach if you were worried.

Salary: FD: $8,600 DK: $7,800

Step 1 - Open Contest

Step 2 - Click Karl-Anthony Towns

Step 3 - Profit

Karl-Anthony Towns is dominating in the month of January, averaging 17-10-2, with 2.4 blocks+steals per game. He has four 50 or more fantasy point games in the last six, and gets a Lakers' front court tonight? I should just stop right here. Towns has averaged 20 and 13 in two games against L.A. this season, as they have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points per game to opposing centers. They also rank 29th in rebounding. This is a prime matchup for the future rookie of the year, so make sure you are on board.

Value Plays

Marcus Smart (PG - BOS) FD: $5,700 DK: $5,400

I was close to putting Ricky Rubio here because of his cheap price tag, but I will go a little further down in salary. Marcus Smart is averaging 13-4-2 in the last six games, with 2.5 steals per game. The Knicks have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards in the last ten, so they have been struggling. With that being said, I love Isaiah Thomas as a GPP play tonight.

Amar'e Stoudemire (PF - MIA) FD: $4,200 DK: $4,400

With Hassan Whiteside doubtful tonight, Amar'e Stoudemire will step in and see 22-25 minutes in the starting role. He is averaging 9 and 8 in the last five games, which is about 25 fantasy points per game, also factoring in his 2.0 blocks+steals per game. He is a great salary relief option, especially in this matchup. Houston rank 22nd in rebound differential, and rank in the bottom ten in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers and power forwards.

Gorgui Dieng (C - MIN) FD: $5,500 DK: $5,400

This is more of a DraftKings specific play where you can roster two centers. The Towns-Dieng combo has been money of late, and I do not mind deploying again. I have sounded off on the Lakers' poor front court, but Dieng has been averaging 13-9-2 in the last five games. He is seeing bigger minutes with the vets out right now, so look for him to play 30+ again tonight.