NBA Winners From Downtown: 2-4-16

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

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $5,000 DK: $5,800

On tonight's four game slate, it is fairly easy to narrow down the two top point guard options, because they are squaring off in Portland. Kyle Lowry and Damian Lillard are two, and I prefer Lillard when deciding between the two. Due to the high-priced options listed below, Norris Cole is my points-per-dollar preference. With New Orleans limited in the backcourt, Cole has averaged 33 minutes in the last five games, scoring an average of 30 fantasy points per game. He also faces the Lakers, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards. I will be building around Davis and Harden tonight, so Cole is the logical fit.

Salary: FD: $11,000 DK: $10,800

James Harden is one two true superstars on the slate, and against a Phoenix defense, he will be in all my lineups on a small slate. Phoenix has allowed the second most fantasy points per game in the last ten to opposing shooting guards, and have allowed the 4th highest FG%. While Dwight Howard is back tonight, or for now at least, Harden is still very tough to avoid. He is averaging 29-7-8 in the last six games, shooting 48% from the field. Against this backup backcourt of Phoenix, expect Harden to flirt with a triple-double again. I like him a little more on FanDuel with the softer pricing.

Salary: FD: $5,900 DK: $6,200

Trevor Ariza is my second favorite Rocket tonight, and with the pace/defense of these two teams, expect a ton of points. Ariza is averaging 17-4-3 with 2.5 steals per game in the last six games, shooting 51% from the field. Ariza has spent time at the three and the four of late, both positions the Suns rank in the bottom ten against for fantasy points allowed per game. Phoenix allows the most steals per game to opposing teams, so expect Houston to come away with aplenty, given they average the most steals per game.

Salary: FD: $10,100 DK: $10,000

Granted Anthony Davis stays healthy the whole game, he is your top power forward option tonight against a hapless Lakers' defense. The Lakers have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards in the last ten games, and rank 28th in rebounding. Davis is coming off a monster night against the number one defense in the league, adding in his defensive stats. He had eight combined blocks and steals, so hopefully he saved some for tonight. Davis is averaging 20-10-2 in the last four games. Look for him to continue with his solid stretch.

Salary: FD: $5,200 DK: $5,100

Center lacks safety tonight, so I rather pay down a bit. Robin Lopez is a bit inconsistent, but so is many of the options tonight. If you are paying up for other options, Andre Drummond is just tough to fit into your lineups. Lopez sees bigger minutes against bigger teams, and Detroit is one of them. Lopez is averaging 10 and 7, with 1.8 blocks per game in the last six. While Drummond is an intimidating matchup, Detroit ranks 16th in fantasy points allowed per game to opposing centers this season, and 25th in the last ten games. If this was a larger slate, I would kick Lopez to the curb, but he helps fit the other pieces.

Value Plays

Jordan Clarkson (PG - LAL) FD: $5,500 DK: $5,100

L.A. brings plenty of guards to the table, but Lou Williams, Kobe (When he plays), and Jordan Clarkson are the safe guys for minutes. Clarkson is averaging 31 minutes a game in the last six, averaging 15-3-3 in that span. New Orleans has allowed the 8th most fantasy points per game to opposing guards. If you need to drop a little further down in price, Pat Beverley is about as low as you can go for cash games.

Devin Booker (SG - PHX) FD: $5,400 DK: $5,900

The entire Phoenix team is value tonight, starting with Devin Booker. The backcourt is playing huge minutes, due to all the injuries, and Booker has averaged 35 in the last six games. He has averaged 18-3-3 in that span, and will have a plus matchup against Houston tonight. They allowed the 4th most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards.

Markieff Morris (PF - PHX) FD: $5,200 DK: $5,700

With the new sheriff in town, Markieff Morris now has the offense revolving around him. He is coming off of a 30-11-6 game, and will have a matchup to build on that performance. His price has taken a small rise, but is still below $6,000. Houston has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing PF this season. After games of minutes in the 20's, it seems likely he will be above 30 again.

Al-Farouq Aminu (SF - POR) FD: $5,200 DK: $5,200

Al-Farouq Aminu has played above 30 minutes in the last three games, putting up productive fantasy point games. He has averaged 10-5-1, with 2.0 blocks+steals per game. Aminu is never a big scorer, but will make up for it with peripheral stats. It is an average matchup for Aminu, but the back-and-forth play of the game will create plenty of fantasy points for both sides. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope doubtful tonight, Stanley Johnson is a nice SF value play as well.