NBA Winners From Downtown: 2-22-16

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

- Warriors-Hawks, Celtics-Wolves, Clippers-Suns, and Lakers-Bucks have the clear-cut high totals tonight, but this slate is looking good top from bottom.

- Clippers are 15.5 point favorites tonight against Phoenix, but they have not been pushed over easily despite the injuries.

- Knicks and Pistons are the only teams off my radar in cash games tonight.

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $8,800 DK: $8,300

With Stephen Curry priced well over $10,000, and Chris Paul involved in a possible-likely blowout, Kyle Lowry is the guard I am paying up for. Lowry has been very consistent this season, and is averaging 22-4-5 in the last ten games. He is also a slight of hand, registering two steals per game in that span. The Knicks have been shredded by point guards of late, allowing the 9th most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards. Lowry has averaged 24-6-9 against the Knicks this season, also tallying three steals per game. I love the price discount from the guards up top, and the matchup makes him an easy call tonight.

Salary: FD: $5,300 DK: $5,600

Jamal Crawford moves into the featured area this time around after being a great value play for the last few weeks. He is still value, and shooting guard seems to be the best spot to pay down at tonight. In the last ten games Crawford is averaging 20 points per game, and sits right around 32 minutes a game. He gets an excellent matchup against the Suns tonight, who have allowed 4th most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards. Even in a likely blowout, Crawford is a safe bet for production. Price considered, he is my favorite option.

Salary: FD: $8,700 DK: $8,400

If you need a slight discount from Lebron James tonight, who is the small forward of choice, look Paul George's way. He is averaging 20-5-5 in the last ten games, and yet again has a matchup against Miami. He has feasted against Miami this season, averaging 30-9-2 in three games. Miami has been trending in the wrong direction against small forwards of late, ranking 18th in fantasy points allowed in the last ten games. They have allowed the third most in the last five games. Outside of Kawhi Leonard, they have not played above average small forwards. George will see some Deng and Winslow tonight, which George should have no problem with.

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

Kevin Love is a great way to get Cavs' exposure tonight. A big 107 total, and even though there are plenty of power forwards to choose from, Love is one of the safer options. He is averaging 17 and 9 in the last ten games, with a few blowouts, and injuries mixed in there. He has become a much more involved player under new play-caller, and it has transitioned into the DFS world. He has averaged 24 and 7 in two games against Detroit this season, and I am expecting a tick up in rebounds tonight from the average.

Salary: FD: $9,000 DK: $8,500

This is one of my favorite plays tonight, and it hurts to do this against the team I root for, but Karl-Anthony Towns will eat the Boston front-court alive. They rank 20th in rebounding, and have allowed the 9th most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season. Towns is averaging 21 and 12 in the last ten games, tacking on a 54.0 FG%, and 2.2 blocks per game. There are some intriguing options at center tonight, but Towns seems to be on another level. It feels like a lot to ask for, but a 50-burger from Towns does not seem out of the picture tonight.

Value "Milwaukee" Plays

Michael Carter-Williams (PG - MIL) FD: $6,200 DK: $6,000

How did you all get here? Three Bucks' players a terrific value plays tonight, and a matchup against the Lakers puts them on everybody's radar. MCW is an easy choice at these prices tonight, as Los Angeles has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards. MCW is averaging 10-5-4 in the last ten games, and should be locked into bigger minutes with Jerryd Bayless out tonight.

Jabari Parker (PF - MIL) FD: $5,500 DK: $5,900

The Lakers rank 27th in rebounding, and have allowed the 9th most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season. Jabari Parker has been on an absolute tear these last few games, locking up nearly three double-doubles in a row. He is coming off back-to-back 40 fantasy point games, and even if the 20+ real point scoring is there. He will be productive against this Lakers' squad.

O.J. Mayo (SG - MIL) FD: $3,800 DK: $4,300

How many Bucks is too much? Well O.J. Mayo ranks third on the list here, but playing him at a weak SG spot is an option. Bayless is already ruled out tonight, and Mayo will receive a bump in minutes. He came away with five steals last game, and even if he didn't, he would of finished with 26 fantasy points. 20-25 fantasy points is about right for this matchup, which is solid production from a punt-priced SG.