NBA Showdown Playbook May 22: Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers Game 4
Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals is an elimination game in Los Angeles as the Nuggets took a commanding lead when they stole Game 3 on the Lakers' home floor. LeBron James has a long history of success in elimination games, but he like everyone else has never concurred a 3-0 series deficit. Will Game 4 and the series be salvaged by the Lakers on their home court or will the Nuggets continue to take the league by storm? Let's dive into my top plays of the daily fantasy basketball showdown slate!
Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Total: 224.5
Spread: LAL -3
Los Angeles Lakers Injuries
- Anthony Davis - PROB
- LeBron James - PROB
- Mo Bamba - IN
Denver Nuggets Injuries
- Collin Gillespie - OUT
NBA DFS MVP/CPT Top Plays
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic had his first “bad” game in Game 3 and the Nuggets still won. That’s how well they’re playing right now. He was in early foul trouble and prior to Game 3, he had 70+ DKP in seven consecutive contests. He’s as good as it gets at the top of the position.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
We’ve seen time in, and time out, from LeBron James that elimination games are his cup of tea. In 25 career games, James has averaged 33.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists, on 48.8 FG% from the floor. Monster. He’s put up 50+ DKP in four straight games and has double-doubles, bordering triple-doubles.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
I mean, Jamal Murray has been the best player in this series thus far. He’s been the X-factor. That’s significant considering he plays with Nikola Jokic and against LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Murray’s poured in 31+ points, 54+ DKP in three straight, and 60+ in two straight. The Lakers have no answers on the defensive end for Murray.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Davis was great in Game 3, but we know how inconsistent he’s been for the Lakers this entire postseason. He has a higher ceiling more often than not than LeBron James but I prefer James to Davis today. No issue if you get to Davis at captain because we know how high of a ceiling he has, however.
Contrarian CPT/MVP Plays
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
I mean, Reaves continues to be fantastic. Arguably the Lakers most consistent player over the last two series. He’s had at least 22 points, five assists, and 36 DKP/game over his last four games and has put up 32+ DKP in six straight. Reaves will continue to be everywhere the Lakers need him to be.
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
Porter stayed out of foul trouble in Game 3 and put up a double-double, his second of the series and fifth of the postseason. Porter Jr. has been good all around, but his ability to be the Nuggets' third go-to scorer and has put up 36+ DKP in six of his last eight games.
Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers
There’s no reason to think Hachimura isn’t a key piece of this Lakers rotation here once again. He’s topped 30 minutes in two straight and 28+ minutes in all three games. He’s topped 21 DKP in all three games and has been one of the team’s key scoring threats.
NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope & Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
Both guys play a significant role for the Nuggets and KCP and Brown have been awesome this series respectively. KCP has scored 17 and 21 points in two of the three games this series while Brown’s scored in double-figures in all three and in five straight. I’m OK getting to either guy here because both have a nice floor/ceiling.
NBA DFS GPP Darts
Lonnie Walker IV, Los Angeles Lakers
We’re not getting the same Lonnie Walker as we were at the end of the Golden State series but we saw flashes of that guy in Game 3. We know Walker can fill it up offensively and he’s playing as many minutes as anyone else off the Lakers bench.
Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers
He continues to play, but continues to shoot poorly. When he’s not shooting poorly, he’s not shooting enough. Three times in the last four games he’s shot six times or fewer. He’s a decent value option at 4.4K.
Jeff Green, Denver Nuggets
Green’s coming in and spacing the floor when Nikola Jokic is off and if he can knock down the two three’s that’s going to come his way and grab a few rebounds like he did in Game 3, he could be the highest-scoring punt play we have tonight.
Mo Bamba, Los Angeles Lakers
This is a 1K punt play that could work because even if he doesn’t play, it helps you spend up and get three of the top guys. Could LA turn to Bamba for a few shifts to help try and throw size at Nikola Jokic? It’s possible.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.