The Denver Nuggets cruised to victory in Game 1. Nikola Jokic dominated from start to finish although he only took 12 shots, and the rest of his teammates showed up in a big way as well. They will look to build on that momentum by securing a 2-0 series lead with a victory in Game 2 on Sunday, June 4. Before Game 2 tips at 8 p.m. ET, check out some of the best NBA player prop bets on the top online sportsbooks.
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Best NBA Finals Prop Bets for Game 2
Whether it was Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets’ supporting players contributed significantly across the board. The Heat, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a basket from deep until late in the fourth quarter when the game was pretty much over. They’ll need to find their stroke quickly if they are to have any chance in this series.
Nikola Jokic OVER 29.5 points (Odds on DraftKings Sportsbook)
It was abundantly clear in Game 1 that Miami doesn’t have the size to slow Jokic down. He scored an effortless 27 points on 12 attempts. He also grabbed 10 boards and dished out 14 assists. As Miami adjusts, the quality of looks the Nuggets’ supporting cast sees is likely to take somewhat of a dip. Miami has been one of the best defenses in the playoffs and found ways to make things challenging for every team they have faced this far.
It’s unlikely they’ll do so with Jokic, so the next best option is to make sure everyone else doesn’t beat them. That means Jokic will have to be more aggressive in looking for his shot. When he is, he is one of the best in the business at putting the ball in the basket.
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Nikola Jokic NOT to record a triple-double (+100 on Caesars Sportsbook)
Jokic became the second player to record a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, joining Jason Kidd as the only other player to do so. He is almost guaranteed to have the points and rebounds, but the assists should be more of a challenge as the Heat adjust. Whether they double-teamed him in Game 1 or played him straight up, he made the right play. However, the double team came early and often, and he found his teammates on target and on time to make coach Erik Spoelstra and Miami pay for that decision.
Later in the game, the Heat played more zone coverage. That proved to be effective by helping to limit the wide-open attempts Jokic generated by drawing a double team when the defense was man-to-man. Better contesting Denver’s role players’ attempts could cause a drop in shooting percentages across the board, which would make it harder for Jokic to get double-digit assists.
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Gabe Vincent OVER 14.5 points (+155 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Gabe Vincent was another bright spot for the Heat in Game 1. He caught fire in the Celtics series and that has carried over to the Finals. In the last round, he shot 48% from the field and 51% from deep. In Game 1 of the Finals, he shot 50% from the field and 50% from three. Thanks to the defense collapsing in to help Jokic when put in the pick-and-roll, Vincent saw many quality looks in the game, finishing 7 for 14 for 19 points.
The Heat are in dire need of scoring, and given his hot hand, it’s not likely they’ll go away from him. Look for him to continue to get ample shot attempts as they look to keep pace with the Nuggets’ high-powered offense. He is as hot as anyone right now, which helps his odds of covering this wager.
Bam Adebayo OVER 19.5 points (+155 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Bam Adebayo finished Game 1 with 26 points, which was his highest-scoring output of the postseason. He also attempted the most shots he has taken all postseason in Game 1. He was one of the bright spots for the Heat in the game. Denver didn’t have an answer for him once Jokic was put in high pick and rolls, which led to a lot of dunks and short-range attempts. The Nuggets adjusted, but nothing significantly hindered the quality of attempts Adebayo got.
As the game continued, he started to miss shots he was making earlier in the game. It’s a good chance it was thanks to the effort required of him to defend Jokic on the other end of the court. Considering how often Miami was able to get a good shot from putting the Nuggets’ big man in the action, Adebayo has a great chance of covering this wager.
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Article contributed by David Fletcher.
