Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5)

Game Total: 214


The Nuggets have showed throughout the entire playoffs they are never out of a game. They almost pulled off another comeback in Game 2. They had a 16-point deficit in the second half, but came back to take a one-point lead with 20.8 seconds left. They couldn't get a defensive rebound with two seconds left, allowing the Lakers to inbound the ball and setup a great look at the basket for Anthony Davis, who hit a three-pointer as time expired to give the Lakers a 105-103 lead and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Nuggets will need more from their starters outside of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. They combined for 55 points, while the rest of the starters combined for 16 points on 6-for-16 from the field.

Player Breakdowns

Please note these players are ranked in order. If a player is not mentioned it doesn’t meant they are a fade.

MVP/CPT

1. Jamal Murray, PG DEN – In a more competitive game than the first one, Murray played 44 minutes. He had 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and hit two three-pointers for 45 DK points. Murray tends to thrive in pressure spots and as improbable a run as the Nuggets have had in the playoffs, going down 3-0 is hole likely too big to deep against the Lakers. Murray is going to have to shoot a lot.

2. Anthony Davis, PF/C LAL – Davis has been great in the first two games and Denver has no answer. He had 37 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists for 56 DK points in Game 1. He followed with the winning three-pointer in Game 2 and had 31 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and had 51.75 DK points. He has shot 23-for-46 from the field in the series.

3.LeBron James, PG/SF LAL – It's rare to get a bad game from James unless it's a blowout and his minutes are reduced. He played 31 minutes in Game 1 in a blowout and had 40.5 DK points as he only took 11 shots from the field. He played 36 minutes in Game 2 and had 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and hit two three-pointers.

Mid-Tier

1 Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF DEN – Porter isn't a safe play since his minutes aren't guaranteed. He played 29 minutes in Game 1 since it was a blowout and got a lot of minutes late in the game. He had a double-double and finished with 35.5 DK points. In Game 2, he played 20 minutes and had 15 points, four rebounds and shot 6-for-9 from the field, including 2-for-4 from three-point range for 20 DK points.

2. Danny Green, SG/SF LAL – Green hasn't shot well in the first two games, but he has taken 24 shots from the field. He has only hit seven, but he will keep firing. While has scored 19 points, he has 10 rebounds and five steals and had 22.25 and 27.75 DK points. He has at least 22 DK points in four straight games.

3.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF LAL – Caldwell-Pope has played 31 and 30 minutes in the first two games. He took 10 shots from the field in Game 1 and six in Game 2 and hit three three-pointers in each game. He had 26.25 DK points in Game 1 and 19.5 in the last games.

Dart Throws

1. Alex Caruso, PG/SG LAL – Caruso doesn't do much, but he's been on the floor and can play 25-30 minutes. He played 22 minutes in Game 1 and had 15.5 DK points. He played 29 minutes in Game 1 and took a three-pointer from the top of the key that missed before Anthony Davis hit the winning three-pointer. Caruso had nine points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block for 20.5 DK points. In five of the 10 playoff games he has played, Caruso has at least 20 DK points.

2. P.J. Dozier, PG/SG DEN – He played 12 and 14 minutes in the first two games. He played more in the second half in Game 2 due to his defense. He has 11.75 and 9.75 DK points in those games. He's cheap and allows you get in three studs.