NBA Winners From Downtown: 2-6-16

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

- Thunder-Warriors has a 230 total tonight, with the Warriors as 8.5 favorites. I believe the spread is a little much for a Thunder team trying to prove they belong in the consideration of the west's best. Look for all the stars to put on a show tonight, and get yourself in a seat come 9:00 ET.

- Blowout concerns feature Spurs-Lakers and Cavs-Pelicans. Spurs is an obvious blowout tonight, but the Cavs have looked mediocre of late.

- Dallas-Memphis has an unattractive total tonight, and keep an eye out for Dallas resting Dirk tonight. Phoenix and the Lakers are unappealing in all formats.

- It is easy to get lost in the 230 total tonight, but every other game is over 200 tonight outside of the ones mentioned above. So it is a good night to find value to pair with Curry, Durant, and Westbrook.

Top Picks

Salary: FD: $11,000 DK: $11,200

Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry are squaring off tonight, and you can really go either way here. I like the Thunder side just a little bit more because the fantasy points are tied to two people, while Golden State can spread things out a little more. Westbrook is a higher triple-double threat tonight as he adds a bit more peripheral stats than Curry. At essentially the same price, I will lean towards him. Westy is averaging 24-11-12 in the last five games. The pace and fantasy production in this game is going to be insane, so get some exposure to it.

Salary: FD: $5,300 DK: $5,100

The Nets-76ers game could not have come at a more perfect time. The Nets players get a prime matchup, and all are at great prices to pair with the big names. Joe Johnson is playing very well of late, averaging 14-4-7 in the last six games, shooting 50% from the field. His peripheral numbers are up tonight which I love, and at two of the weaker positions on the board tonight, Johnson just makes sense. 76ers have allowed the third most fantasy points per game to opposing SF, and rank dead last in defensive efficiency. Johnson is shooting guard on FanDuel, making him easily the top option there. Johnson is small forward on DraftKings making him a great forward spot if you are paying of for Durant of course.

Salary: FD: $10,700 DK: $10,500

Like I mentioned with Westbrook, the Thunder fantasy production is much more concentrated. Kevin Durant is averaging 33-9-4 in the last five games, as both him and Westbrook are shooting over 50% in that span. Golden State is a good defensive team, so you are not going to find a positive matchup on paper for DvP. You are going to find the highest pace game of the night, with easily the highest total come the end. Durant is fairly close to matchup proof anyway. Durant, Curry, and Westbrook are three of the top four in projections on our site, with Anthony Davis being the other.

Salary: FD: $6,400 DK: $6,300

Another cheap price tag for the Nets is Thaddeus Young. He is averaging 12-9-2, with 1.5 steals per game in the last six. He gets a great matchup against his old team, who have allowed the second most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards. They rank 28th in rebounding, and have allowed the fourth most steals per game to PF. The Nets have a 102 total tonight, which I am all over for value. Points-per-dollar, Young is my favorite play at PF tonight.

Salary: FD: $5,600 DK: $6,100

Continuing on the trend of building around guys like Durant, Westbrook, and Curry, Gorgui Dieng is a nice mid-priced center play. He is averaging 17-10-2 in the last five games, playing over 30 in each. Kevin Garnett and Nikola Pekovic are both doubtful tonight, so Dieng will continue to see heavy minutes. Chicago has allowed the 9th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards in the last ten games. We are waiting on the total of this game, but expect it to be over or near 205 with a close spread. I will attack the opposing Chicago bigs on a back-to-back here.

Value Plays

Patty Mills (PG - SAS) FD: $3,900 DK: $3,700

The Spurs are monster favorites tonight against the Lakers, which is no surprise to any of us. Mills isn't a big minutes producer, but 20 minutes against the Lakers will be easy value tonight. L.A. ranks dead last in defensive efficiency against opposing point guards, and have allowed the most fantasy points per game. Mills is deep value for those looking to get expensive exposure to Thunder-Warriors.

Stanley Johnson (SF - DET) FD: $4,600 DK: $5,200

With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out until after the all-star break, Stanley Johnson will draw the start, and play big minutes. KCP played 36 minutes per game, so Johnson was expected to fill plenty of those. He played 44 minutes last game, mainly due to how efficient he was. Although a tougher matchup tonight, it is hard to get away from Johnson as a top value play. I am not expecting the 40+ fantasy point game, as he should sit 25-30.

Taj Gibson (PF - CHI) FD: $5,300 DK: $5,800

Pau Gasol is questionable again tonight, and Taj Gibson is a safe play regardless. Minnesota sits in the middle of the league defensively against power forwards and centers, so wherever Gibson lines up I am not worried. Gibson is averaging 10-9-1 in the last five games, with 2.8 blocks+steals per game. If I am paying up for the Golden State game, Taj is a nice PF1 tonight.