NBA Showdown Playbook May 16: Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets Game 1
The Western Conference Finals kicks off on Tuesday, May 16th, with the Los Angeles Lakers traveling to the Denver Nuggets to see who will represent the West in the NBA finals. There is plenty of star power on display as Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Jamal Murray take the floor and the ancillary pieces around them are great too. Denver opens as the favorite at home, a place they went 34-7 at. This should be a fantastic series and we have NBA DFS breakdown to go with it.
If you have ANY questions about tonight's game from a DFS or betting perspective, make sure to hop in the discord below and ask away!
Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets
Total: 222.5
Spread: DEN -6
Los Angeles Lakers Injuries
- Anthony Davis - PROB
- LeBron James - PROB
- Mo Bamba - OUT
Denver Nuggets Injuries
- Jamal Murray - QUEST
- Collin Gillespie - OUT
NBA DFS CPT/MVP Top Plays
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Look, I get that using Nikola Jokic as a captain handicaps the rest of our line considering he’s $19,200 on DraftKings and is $1.8K more than everyone else, but he’s worth it. In the final five games against Phoenix, he put up 72+ DKP in each and had three triple-doubles and two double-doubles. Jokic averaged 23.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 60.1 DKP/game over four meetings against the Lakers this year.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s been a wild postseason for Anthony Davis and there have been a lot of up’s and down’s throughout, but his ceiling has been elite. He’s been dominating on the defensive end since the play-in game and has two 20-rebound games on his ledger as well. If Davis can get going offensively, he has as much upside as anyone else in this game.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Although he’s listed as questionable, the expectation is that Jamal Murray will play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tonight. Murray has scored 26+ actual points and 45+ DKP in three of his last four games and during the regular season he averaged nearly 40 DKP/game in four meetings against the Lakers. Murray has the ability to lead the Nuggets to victory when he’s the team’s primary scorer and Nikola Jokic is setting him up.
Contrarian CPT/MVP options
- Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers - if starting
- Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
- Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
It was vintage LeBron James in Game 6 against the Warriors as he played a near flawless game. He’s been very good lately putting up 46+ DKP in three straight contests and we know there have been very few players that have lived up to the moment like James. James will be a little contrarian at captain, especially with this game in Denver.
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
This kids been flat out ballin’ for the Lakers and is coming off a 39.25 DKP outing and has put up 30+ DKP in three straight games. Using Reaves is a very safe play in cash and still presents enough upside in GPP’s as well. Pivoting off Reaves to a likely lower-owned D’Angelo Russell could be a solid approach in tournaments.
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
I’d much rather play Michael Porter Jr. at $7,000 on DraftKings than $6,800 Aaron Gordon given the upside MPJ has flashed versus what Gordon has this postseason. Gordon has taken a backseat and is the fourth or fifth option offensively each and every night. In Games 3, 4, and 5, Michael Porter Jr. had 36+ DKP thanks to two double-doubles and a 19-point, 8-rebound outing.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope & Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
I’ve said this for two series now. Bruce Brown has typically been the one of these two players drawing a lot of the rostership but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the pivot off of him. Bruce does more on a regular basis, but KCP has two things working for him. When his shot is falling, he can space the floor infinitley better than Brown AND he plays more than him every night.
Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers
I mentioned I think Schroder is a sneaky CPT play and here’s why. If he re-enters the starting lineup, his price tag allows you to comfortably get two spend up’s, aka some combination of Nikola Jokic/Anthony Davis/Lebron James/Jamal Murray. Schroder topped 25 minutes in the final three games of the Warriors series and it would’ve been more if he hadn’t been ejected in Game 6. I like this idea best if he’s starting again.