We head into Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals with the Denver Nuggets leading the Los Angeles Lakers 2-0 in the series but it's the Lakers' turn to serve home court as they host the Nuggets tonight, Saturday, May 20th, at 8:30 pm ET at the Crypto Arena. The Lakers need big performances out of LeBron James and Anthony Davis in order to not go down to the almost insurmountable 3-0 series deficit. 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: 223.5

Spread: LAL -5.5
 

Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

Denver Nuggets Injuries

 

NBA DFS MVP/CPT Top Plays

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Even though he didn’t score in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets last game, he still triple-doubled, won the game, and put up 70 DKP. He has four straight triple-doubles and seven consecutive games with 70+ DKP.

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

If you tracked Anthony Davis’ playoff numbers, you’d know he’s been incredibly inconsistent, especially on the offensive end. He was 4-of-15 from the floor in Game 2 and was 5-of-9 in Game 6 of the Warriors series. The games he is aggressive in are the one’s he breaks a slate. Heading back to LAL down 2-0 is a game they need their superstar to be aggressive. Look for Davis to come out swinging on both ends of the floor.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have called upon James to do it all for them more than he had to during the regular season and he’s now fallen just short of a triple-double in three consecutive games. He’s had 56+ DKP in three straight games and knows he’ll need to put up a big performance to keep his team from going down 3-0 in the series. Look for James, once again, to approach and possibly surpass the triple-double marker.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

If you used Murray in the captain’s spot in Game 2, you likely won a lot of money. He had a magical fourth quarter scoring 23 of his 37 points in the fourth. The Lakers don’t really have anyone to guard him considering their guard rotation is D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder, and Austin Reaves.

Contrarian CPT/MVP options

Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers

He was listed as my number one contrarian captain in Game 2 and he did not disappoint. Yeah, the Lakers did exactly what was expected. They extended his minutes and had him guard Nikola Jokic so that Anthony Davis could play free safety. He played 30 minutes and scored 21 points while notching 27 DKP in the game. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him enter the starting lineup here and even if he doesn’t, he’s been too good to not keep going back to.

D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

After barely playing in the second half of Game 1, Russell gave the Lakers 32 minutes and they were productive. Although he shot just 3-of-8 from the floor, he had 27.5 DKP because he did a little of everything. We know how good he can be when his shot is falling and with the Lakers heading back home, DLo could fill it up here.

Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

Despite early foul trouble in Game 2, Porter Jr. finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and 29.75 DKP across 31 minutes. Porter has had double-digit points in six straight games and seven or more rebounds in five of those games. He’s also put up 35+ DKP in four of those six games and has been everything Denver’s needed and then some after Murray and Jokic.

NBA DFS UTIL Top Plays

Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

Reaves has scored 30+ DKP in five straight games and has 20+ points in four of five. He’s been a weapon for the Lakers as he’s spaced the floor wonderfully for the team. Continue to confidently play him in your DFS lineups.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Denver Nuggets

With KCP getting in foul trouble in Game 2, the Nuggets relied on Bruce Brown to play a bulk of the minutes, but look at what KCP was able to do in Game 6 against the Suns and Game 1 against the Lakers. There’s no reason to think that same fortune of Game 2 strikes again. Back to the well I go!

NBA DFS GPP Darts

Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers elected to start Vanderbilt and play less Lonnie Walker IV in Game 2. He has a low floor, but he can be very good on the glass and on the defensive end and can stumble into a bunch of rebounds/blocks/steals, even in a short stint.

Insert 1K punt here

So I bring this up because the winning GPP from Game 2 ate a zero in their lineup. They jammed a bunch of the studs up top and used the 1K punt in order to get all of them. That COULD work if all the stars align again here. And hey, if the game blows out, maybe the one you use actually gets on the court!