We have Game 4 of the NBA Finals taking place on Friday, June 9th, with the Denver Nuggets up 2-1 on the Miami Heat as the Heat look to even the series on their home floor. The Nuggets seized Game 3 off the back of two triple-doubles from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and the Heat are going to need their stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, to do the same.  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

You know, just your casual 32-point, 21-rebound triple-double in Game 3 on the road in the NBA Finals. All usual stuff, right? He’s too hard to fade right now. The only question is whether you want to use him in the captain’s spot.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray’s triple-double was secured with three seconds left in a double-digit win but was one nonetheless. That’s all we care about in the DFS streets. He has a double or triple-double in three straight games and has 41+ DKP in eight straight. He’s flashing the second-highest ceiling in this series on a consistent basis. Miami simply doesn't have anyone to guard him in their back-court. 

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

The Heat NEED Jimmy Butler to step up. He was OK in Game 3, but he wasn’t great. He scored 28 points in game 3 but hasn’t scored more than 40 DKP in any finals game. He’s had nine 50+ DKP outings this postseason and the Heat need number 10 here. The problem is Aaron Gordon is giving him fits. If he steps up, he is likely lower owned in the captain’s spot than any spend up and could be leveraged.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

With Jimmy Butler struggling of late, Bam Adebayo has shouldered quite the load in the NBA Finals. He took 21 shots in Game 3 and has scored 21+ points in all three games. He’s also put up 40+ DKP in all three and 50+ in two of three. Nikola Jokic isn’t the best defender and the Heat are relying on him offensively more than they have in any other series. In five games against Denver this year, Adebayo has averaged 22 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 43.3 DKP.

Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

With Christian Braun at your captain’s spot, you have the ability to really do whatever you want with the rest of your lineup. He’s been fantastic in each of the last two games and has been one of the main reasons why Denver’s up 2-1 in this series. He’s now played 15 and 19 minutes in the last two games and he’s put up 17.25 DKP and 23 DKP. If he continues to play this well, he’s a guy we can use as captain, but it’s really only an option if playing multiple lineups.

NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays

Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

I mean, I said this last game, but there’s no way Michael Porter Jr. can continue to shoot this poorly, right? He has now shot below 36% over his last five games and has even been worse than that over his last two games shooting less than 25% including a 1-for-7 in Game 3. He’s scored 12 or fewer fantasy points in back-to-back games. Once his shot begins to fall, he could break the slate. I like him a lot if you’re playing multiple lineups.

Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

Aaron Gordon is clocking in and out for his 9-to-5 every game. He’s shadowing Jimmy Butler continuously on the defensive end and has 26+ DKP in four straight games and is coming off his first double-double of the series. Gordon’s a very solid and safe option.

Gabe Vincent, Miami Heat

Vincent couldn’t make a shot in Game 3 and you saw what happens to Miami when they don’t space the floor well. They need Vincent to look like the guy he was in Games 1 and 2 and there’s reason to believe he can get back to that. He’s taken six or more threes in all three games this series and he’s made multiple threes in 13 games this postseason. As long as Tyler Herro is out, Vincent is going to play 32+ minutes.

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

Martin did play 32 minutes in Game 3, which was the first time that he topped 25 minutes this series, and the Heat relied upon him to help get past the Celtics. In fact, he was one of the primary reasons WHY the Heat beat the Celtics. He could’ve won Conference Finals MVP. The Heat could really use Martin to be that guy again to help them tie the series.

NBA DFS Showdown Value Plays

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

Look, we saw Max Strus make shots in Game 2 and Lowry only saw 24 minutes but in Game 3 Strus didn’t make shots and Lowry saw 30 minutes. He’s had 20+ DKP in four-of-five games and he’s actually been quite good throughout this postseason for the Heat.

Kevin Love, Miami Heat

If Kevin Love continues to start, he’s in play as a cheap option. He’s made multiple threes in two straight games but Game 2 included 10 rebounds. He was one of the key pieces to all DFS lineups. He’s still an elite rebounder but it’s likely he sits in the 14-to-16-minute ballpark.

Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat

In the previous four games in which Highsmith has played 10+ minutes, he’s had 11.75+ DKP and twice he’s put up 24.5 DKP. The Heat have randomly deployed Highsmith throughout this postseason, this could be one of those spots after they were unable to really stop the Nuggets in Game 3 and Highsmith’s a very good defender.