On Wednesday, June 7th, Game 3 of the NBA Finals shifts to Miami after the Heat were able to steal Game 2 in Denver. It was Denver's FIRST postseason loss at home and it really came as a shock after Miami had a historic fourth quarter. Can Miami can continue to shoot the way they shot in Game 2 or will they wilt back into the team they were over an 82-game regular season sample? 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: 214.5

Spread: DEN -3

Miami Heat Injuries

Denver Nuggets Injuries

NBA DFS CPT/MVP Top Plays

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Despite losing Game 2, Jokic was incredible once again as he poured in 41 points and 60.75 DKP. He’s put up 60+ DKP in nine of his last 10 postseason games. What else do we need?

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray was off to a REALLY slow start in Game 2 but really got it going in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, and ended up with his second straight double-double, notching 42.5 DKP. He’s been incredibly consistent this postseason, and the Heat don’t have anyone to guard him in the back-court.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

The Heat’s best player in this series has been Bam Adebayo and that’s huge for Miami after a lackluster series against Boston. Adebayo has 21+ points and 40+ DKP in two straight games and fell one rebound shy of a fourth consecutive double-double overall. He’s been great as a passer notching 4+ assists in four consecutive games as well. Adebayo’s averaged 22 points/game against Denver in four match-ups this season.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Look, Butler was lollygagging through three quarters in Game 2 and then turned in on in the fourth quarter and his team had a historic shooting stretch to ultimately steal the game. Butler has struggled against Aaron Gordon his entire career and this series has been no different. With Tyler Herro ruled out once again, Miami’s going to need Butler to elevate his game offensively, especially if Miami doesn’t have another historic shooting night.

Kevin Love, Miami Heat

The Heat made a lineup change in Game 2 moving Caleb Martin to the bench and Kevin Love into the starting lineup. Despite shooting 2-for-9 from the floor, Love put up 25 DKP in 22 minutes and he was 2K. Even at 3.6K, if Love is used at CPT, it allows you SO much room to navigate the rest of your lineup.

NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays

Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

There’s no way he can keep shooting this poorly, right? This is a guy who shot nearly 48% from the floor and nearly 41% from three this season but Porter has shot below 37% in four consecutive games and is just 7-for-24 through two games of the NBA Finals. He’s a great shooter, not just a good one, and when he starts seeing shots fall, he’s a difference-maker.

Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

Gordon’s in the midst of a really good stretch of basketball, his best of this postseason. He’s put up at least 12 points, six rebounds, one block, and 26 DKP in three straight games. He’s shadowing Jimmy Butler and again, I’ve said this a lot, but his primary objective is shadowing Butler everywhere he is in this series. When Butler’s tying his shoe, taking a nap, out to dinner, etc.

Gabe Vincent, Miami Heat

Vincent’s been lights out from the floor through the first two games of this series scoring 19 and 23 points while making four or more threes in both games. Vincent has never seen a shot he doesn’t look and has made multiple threes in four straight contests this postseason. Vincent could continue to be one of the most important options Miami has offensively.

NBA DFS Showdown Value Plays

Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets

It was Brown that got the call in Michael Porter Jr.’s place a lot of the fourth quarter because Porter’s offense was so subpar, it meant more for Denver to have Brown on the floor as the superior defender. Brown has played 20+ minutes in every game this postseason and has even topped 30 a couple of times. He’s put up 20+ DKP in each of the first two games of the NBA Finals. If KCP and Porter Jr. miss all of their shots again, we could see Denver turn to Brown for some extra run.

Max Strus, Miami Heat

If Strus makes shots, he’s a slate breaker. If he doesn’t, he will be taken off the floor for a lot of other guys on the Heat. He slowed down in the second half in terms of shot-making after making four first-quarter threes. Strus has many games with two-plus made threes this postseason. GPPs only.

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

In three straight games leading into Game 2, Lowry had put up 20+ DKP and looked like a key piece as to why the Heat was able to close out the Celtics and one of the only reasons Miami stayed competitive in Game 1. I said it before Game 2 and I’ll say it again; if Max Strus’ shot isn’t falling, going to the Lowry/Vincent back-court could be fruitful for Miami.

Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

I’ve talked about it a bunch this postseason but when you’re playing showdown, sometimes you can just punt a min salary player and it’ll pay off if the top-priced players go off. Braun was in every winning lineup last time out putting up 17.25 DKP in 15 minutes in Game 2 at $1,400. His price has now dropped $200. This makes it easier to get to a Nikola Jokic captain lineup, ultimately. Consider that when you’re building lineups.