Game 2 of the NBA Finals tips off Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET, as the Nuggets look to take a 2-0 lead before heading to Miami, where Tyler Herro is expected to return. With the first game in the books, players should have a better feel for the matchup. Check out the best player prop and first basket bets for Heat vs. Nuggets Game 2 here and get in the wager action.
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Heat vs. Nuggets First Basket Odds + More Player Prop Bets
The Nuggets have had the edge when it comes to getting on the board first in these NBA Playoffs, scoring first 54% of the time. Although Nikola Jokic hasn’t been dominant with the opening tip, his height advantage over Bam Adebayo should help him perform better in this category in the Finals.
Here are the first basket odds for tonight’s game.
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | Caesars (Code 'TODAYFULL') |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | +425 | +430 | +375 |
| Bam Adebayo | +600 | +550 | +525 |
| Jimmy Butler | +600 | +600 | +450 |
| Jamal Murray | +550 | +650 | +550 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | +900 | +800 | +900 |
| Aaron Gordon | +950 | +900 | +950 |
Adebayo has a better opening tip win percentage than Jokic, but Jokic has now won their head-to-head battle this year 2-1, thanks to his height advantage. The Heat made it clear from the jump ball in Game 1 that Jokic would receive extra attention. That created a lot of high-quality looks for his teammates, especially Aaron Gordon. He scored 12 of his total 16 points in the first quarter thanks to mismatches and multiple Heat players focusing on the Nuggets’ big man.
Tonight’s Line: Current NBA Odds From Top Sportsbooks
Jokic scored 27 points on just 12 attempts in Game 1. Considering how dominant he was, it’s unlikely the Heat will slow down their efforts to limit him. That leaves his supporting cast to roam free, and Gordon has a significant size advantage over whoever guards him in Miami’s starting lineup. Thanks to the difference in stature between Gordon and his defenders, look for Denver to go to him early in this contest to see if Miami has adjusted to the glaring hole in their defense.
Best Player Prop Bets for Heat vs. Nuggets Game 2 on Sunday
Denver cruised to victory in Game 1. Its front-court size advantage proved to be too much for Miami for the bulk of the game. As for the Heat, the benefit of their smaller lineup didn’t materialize until in the fourth quarter when the game was out of hand, as they were finally able to get quality looks from deep to fall, thanks to Denver having to help Jokic in pick-and-roll action. If Miami can find their stroke earlier in the game and maintain it, they’ll have a much better chance in this one.
Gabe Vincent to Have 3 Plus Made Threes (+105 on FanDuel)
Gabe Vincent was one of the Heat’s bright spots in Game 1. He scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field and 5-for-10 from deep. He shot 51% from three in the last series and had three games with three-plus made threes. Miami is in dire need of points, and he is producing as well as anyone on the team at the moment.
Vincent is also getting many quality looks thanks to Jokic struggling on defense. Thanks to how hot he is and the type of shots he is getting, we like his odds of hitting this Over.
Aaron Gordon to Score 15 Plus Points (+115 on DraftKings)
Gordon’s offensive production has taken a dip in the playoffs, but he hasn’t had the type of advantage he has in this series in any of the others. Whether it be Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, or Vincent, he had his way on the low block in Game 1. His success slowed down in the second half, but his services weren’t needed as much, thanks to the blowout that was already at hand.
Miami has been one of the better defensive teams all playoffs long and can be expected to adapt, but the personnel is just not there. Outside of Adebayo and Cody Zeller, the Heat don’t have anyone who can match his size and physicality, and those two are both focused on Jokic when they are on the court. That leaves him as a reliable go-to option for Mike Malone.
Nikola Jokic Under 10.5 Assists (+100 on Caesars)
Jokic compiled nearly 10 assists in the first quarter of Game 1. A lot of them were thanks to defensive lapses from the Heat. Now that they have a game under their belt, they should be able to tighten up their defense, which has been elite in the playoffs. Stopping Jokic may be too tall of a task for the undersized Miami squad, but stopping the others is more plausible.
Thanks to adjustments, Jokic’s teammates may have a more challenging time helping him to cover this wager.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Under 9.5 Points (+100 on FanDuel)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been outstanding on both ends of the floor for Denver. He has had plenty of big-scoring games during their current run. When he does, he usually has a big game from beyond the arc. When he doesn’t, he is usually in line for a single-digit game.
In all but one game this postseason when he scored 10 or more points, he connected on at least three attempts from deep. In Game 1, he was 1-for-3 from deep and finished with seven points. Miami is one of the best at defending the three-ball, which should help keep him from exploding from deep.
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