Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets takes place in Denver on Sunday, June 4th, as the Heat look to even the series at one game a piece. Denver controlled Game 1 from the outset and Miami never found an answer to stop Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray. Denver's been dominant at home and has yet to lose a postseason game at home yet. Can Miami steal one in Denver?  Let's dive into my breakdown of today's NBA DFS Showdown Playbook for Game 2 of the NBA Finals and who my favorite daily fantasy basketball plays are for tonight's game!

 

Miami Heat @ Denver Nuggets

Total: 216

Spread: DEN -8.5

Miami Heat Injuries

Denver Nuggets Injuries

NBA DFS CPT/MVP Top Plays

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

In Game 1, Nikola Jokic dominated having a 27-point triple-double and dropped 68.5 DKP. The Heat, much like everyone else, has nothing to stop Jokic. Expect this type of production to continue throughout this series.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic did not get off to a hot start scoring because he was busy setting Jamal Murray up offensively. Murray continues his offensive dominance throughout Game 1, notching 26 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and 51.5 DKP. He’s put up 50+ DKP in four of his last five games, scored 25+ points in five straight, and in eight-of-nine. He's been incredible all postseason long and has been as good, if not better, as Nikola Jokic at times.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

There’s no getting around the fact that if Bam Adebayo is aggressive offensively he’s going to have some big games this series. He was exactly that in Game 1 shooting 13-of-25, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and 50.8 DKP. Nobody is sitting up here and saying Nikola Jokic is a great defender and Adebayo can take advantage of that all series long.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

I listed the numbers Butler has had in one-on-one match-ups with Aaron Gordon in the Game 1 write-up and that holds true here after a 6-for-14 lackluster performance in Game 1. The only reason his fantasy output was saved a little was the fact he had seven rebounds and assists. Aaron Gordon is a really tough match-up for him, but Butler also has only taken two free-throws over the last two games. That’s likely not going to continue if he’s aggressive offensively. The Heat need Butler to show up offensively to have a chance on Denver’s home floor. 

NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays

Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

Porter has been fantastic this postseason and even on a night that he was 5-for-16 from the field and 2-for-11 from three, he had a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double and put up 38.3 DKP. He’s someone I’d consider using in the CPT spot as well because if he is as engaged defensively as he was in Game 1 along with his shot falling, Miami is in trouble. He’s put up 33+ DKP in six of eight games.

Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets fed Gordon early and often in Game 1 and he responded scoring eight points out of the gate and 16 for the game. He had 27 DKP in this one and that was the second consecutive game in which he’s put up at least 16 points, six rebounds, and 27 DKP. His primary job in this series is to shadow Jimmy Butler, but when the offensive comes along for the ride, he’s dangerous.

Gabe Vincent, Miami Heat

The only Heat player that even gave them a lick of floor spacing in Game 1 was Gabe Vincent as he shot 7-for-14 from the field and 5-for-10 from three. He scored 19 points and had 33 DKP. Vincent’s had some big games this postseason as he’s poured in at least 19 points five times, but it’s been on an inconsistent basis.

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

What Caleb Martin did in the Boston series died out in Game 1 as he could get nothing going and maybe the non-covid-related illness he’s suffering through played a bigger role than we knew about. If he’s cleared to play, Martin and his 19.3 points/game against Boston need to show up in a big way in Game 2 for Miami to keep their magical run afloat.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Denver Nuggets

KCP didn’t shoot all that well in Game 1 but we’ve seen a LOT throughout his career that when shots are falling, he can change the outcome of a game. He has scored 13+ points in three of his last five games overall. He’s a GPP dart.

NBA DFS Showdown Value Plays

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

Some of the best minutes from Game 1 that the Heat got from their team included Kyle Lowry and Haywood Highsmith. If Max Strus continues to shoot poorly, we expect Miami to go to more Lowry-Vincent lineups. Lowry was one of the best offensive weapons for Miami in game 1 shooting 3-for-6 from three and notching 11 points, five assists, five rebounds, and 27.3 DKP across 25 minutes. We might see those minutes trend up toward 30 for the ONLY Heat player with a positive +/- from Game 1.

Max Strus, Miami Heat

Strus had made at least one three in 14 straight postseason games before his Game 1 abomination. He’s made two or more three’s in 14 postseason games as well. Game 1 was an aberration, but the shot needs to fall early because the Heat could put him on the bench much like they did in Game 1, only giving him 21 minutes. Nobody’s going to play him after his let down last time out.

Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat

Everyone is naturally going to gravitate to Highsmith but things are a little different now that he’s $3,200 compared to $1,400. I’m not saying the 18 points and 27 DKP wouldn’t pay off that salary in Spade because it would, but he was 7-for-10 from the floor in Game 1. He was a 45% shooting in the regular season. That efficiency isn’t sustainable. Still obviously in play