NBA Winners From Downtown: 3-5-16

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: $10,200 DK: $9,500

Chris Paul has been phenomenal of late, and is easily the point guard I want to pay up for tonight in all formats. He gets a home matchup against Atlanta, who played last night against the Lakers. Paul is averaging 24-5-10 over the last ten games, which translates to about 50 fantasy points per game. The Hawks are a solid defensive bunch, but teams can rack up plenty of fantasy points against them. They rank 17th in fantasy points allowed per game to opposing point guards this season, and matched up with Paul's high usage and efficiency, he will get his. With John Wall, Rajon Rondo and some of the other guards in lesser matchups -- Paul is just an easy call.

Salary: FD: $5,300 DK: $5,700

I would love to jump all over the opportunity in cash games for Jimmy Butler today, but I will tread lightly given this is his first game back from injury. His return also means I like James Harden a little less. Zach LaVine on the other hand has been a reliable value play for the past week and a half, and is averaging 16-3-2 in the last ten games. He hovers around 26-32 fantasy points on a nightly basis, and is playing big minutes. 37 MPG over the last five. Brooklyn ranks 25th in defensive efficiency against opposing shooting guards, and have allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game. LaVine's price makes him an easy plug and play for tonight's slate.

Salary: FD: $8,500 DK: $8,100

Paul George gets a fantastic matchup against Washington tonight, who have struggled tremendously against small forwards this season. They have allowed the third most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards, and rank 20th in defensive efficiency. George has averaged 30-6-5 against Washington this season in two games, shooting over 50% from the field and from three. Washington allowing a 47 FG% this season to SF should help George kick his poor shooting streak, although his 35 point explosion last night might have been it. Either way I will be looking for him to lock down the 40+ points I need from him tonight. Kawhi Leonard also is a solid play in all formats tonight.

Salary: FD: $7,400 DK: $6,800

LaMarcus Aldridge has flown under the radar for consistency of late. He is averaging 19-8-2 in the last ten games, putting up well over 30 fantasy points a night on average. Sacramento has been thrashed by power forwards this season, allowing the third most fantasy points per game, and rank 28th in defensive efficiency. With DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis in tougher matchups tonight, it is easy to pay down a bit. Aldridge has the best matchup on the board here, and has been the more consistent forward in this price range.

Salary: FD: $7,800 DK: $7,400

The Hawks are always a tricky bunch to navigate for fantasy points, but Al Horford has been very reliable. He is averaging 16-8-4 in the last ten games, also tacking on 3.1 blocks + steals per game. He is averaging 37 fantasy points per game in that span, and is a solid projection for him tonight against the Clippers. L.A. has struggled big time against the five this year, ranking 24th in defensive efficiency, and allowing the 6th most fantasy points per game. Both teams rank in the bottom five in rebounding, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. If you need to spin down a little in price, give Rudy Gobert a look.

Value Plays

Bojan Bogdanovic (SF/SG - BKN) FD: $4,000 DK: $4,400

Brooklyn has a high 104 total for tonight's game, and it is surprising as they head back home on a long west coast trip, but I will trust Vegas here. I will also trust Bojan Bogdanovic yet again. He is averaging 15-3-2 in the last six games, and has played 30+ minutes in four of those. Minnesota has allowed the ninth most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards this season, and rank 22nd in defensive efficiency.

Tobias Harris (SF - DET) FD: $5,800 DK: $6,200

Tobias Harris is still at a somewhat "valueish" price tag, and is a spin down from the top options tonight at the position. Harris is averaging 30 fantasy points per game over the last four, shooting 51% from the field. Harris has been a great cash game play since coming to Detroit, and will be yet again tonight. Despite a lower total, Detroit has a 101.75 team total to target.