Welcome to Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets. This postseason has been magical for both teams in their own special ways, but to have an eight-seed in the NBA Finals for just the second time ever is insane. Denver opens this series as big favorites and breaking down from an NBA DFS perspective, that has to be included. This is worth mentioning, but a few times during Denver's past series, because everyone is so expensive, people won tournaments using a stone cold minimum punt who didn't score and there might be a few games this series in which that could happen if you're trying to afford Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler, and Jamal Murray. Lets dive into my breakdown of today's NBA DFS Showdown for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

 

Miami Heat @ Denver Nuggets

Total: 219

Spread: DEN -8.5

Miami Heat Injuries

Denver Nuggets Injuries

NBA DFS CPT/MVP Top Plays

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

He’s the best player in this series. He’s the best player in any series. He’s a match-up nightmare for Miami. He’s the top captain play of the slate.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

The Heat had a lot of issues against guards in the Boston series and Murray has REALLY turned it up, especially during the Lakers series. He scored 31+ points in three of four games in the Western Conference Finals and scored 25+ points in each game. If Miami’s game plan is to double Nikola Jokic, which is entirely possible, Jamal Murray is poised for another big game and series. Murray has been so good at home this year as he’s scoring more, shooting better, and scoring more fantasy points.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

If the Heat are going to have any chance in this series, it’s going to rest at the feet of Jimmy Butler. We saw Butler look quite good from a fantasy perspective in the Eastern Conference Finals, notching 50+ DKP in five of seven games. He has a very tough spot against Aaron Gordon who he shot 5-of-13 with 17 points against Denver and Gordon this season. Butler has scored just 30 points once against Aaron Gordon in all of their meetings since 2014.

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

Can Martin continue his success, particularly offensively, during this series? Enough for Miami to continue to surprise team after team? Miami needs him to be the guy that’s made four three’s in back-to-back games and he’s made multiple threes in seven consecutive games. Martin has scored double-figure points in seven straight games and in nine of his last 10. He has back-to-back 20-point double-doubles in which he put up 40+ DKP as well.
 

NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Although Adebayo wasn’t great scoring the basketball during the Boston series, he was very good defensively and made a big difference, especially in Game 7, in the passing lanes. He notched 33+ DKP in the final three games of the series, two going for double-doubles, and two in which he had five-plus assists. The Heat NEED Adebayo on the floor and out of foul trouble this ENTIRE series.

Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

There’s a case to be made for Porter Jr. being a sneaky CPT option in this game. With Aaron Gordon having his hands full guarding Jimmy Butler, all of the offensive weight after Jokic and Murray shift to Porter. Porter had three double-doubles in the four-game sweep of the Lakers and he scored 14+ points in each game. He spaces the floor so well for Miami that if they go zone, Porter Jr. will pick them apart. 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Denver Nuggets

I love Bruce Brown, but why not spend less on the starting shooting guard that plays nearly 40 minutes every game he’s not in foul trouble? KCP had an excellent series against the Lakers and has been very solid throughout this entire postseason. His ability to space the floor against a team potentially playing some zone defense piques my interest.

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

I know I know. He’s coming off the bench, he’s behind Gabe Vincent on the depth chart. Yada, yada, yada. Lowry was really good for Miami in the final two games of that series, especially in Game 7. They’ve really limited him the entire second half of the year and even throughout some of the postseason. That’s where this changes. Lowry could be an X-Factor for Miami this series.

NBA DFS Showdown Dart Plays