NBA Finals Game 1 Same Game Parlay Picks

Though we had a chance for a Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals, the basketball Gods decided to let someone else have a shot. LA eliminated the defending champion Warriors in the second round opening the door for the Denver Nuggets. The top team in the Western Conference most of the season, the Nuggets took advantage and thanked LA by sweeping LeBron and Co. to reach the NBA Finals for the first time. They’ll take on the Miami Heat with the best of seven starting Thursday in Denver. Having homecourt could prove to be the deciding factor since the Nuggets have been a moneyline NBA pick winner going 8-0 this postseason. The Nuggets are a big favorite to win their first NBA title in their first try and they’re also laying 8-points on the opening NBA betting line at BetRivers sportsbook.

NBA Finals Picks – Game 1

Miami at Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets

The Heat overcame plenty during the season and as coach Erik Spoelstra said, nothing came easy. So I guess it was only fitting that the East Final ended the way it did. Pressuring the Celtics into late mistakes, Miami posted two wins on the road to open the series. They blasted Boston in Game 3 with a sweep looking more and more likely. The Celtics, however, were not going away that easily winning the next three games. Facing adversity and elimination for the first time this postseason (not counting the play-in tournament) the Heat scorched in Game 7 with Caleb Martin collecting his second straight double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Jimmy Butler had 28 points in the clincher, but just like every other game he got plenty of help. Five players scored double figures on Monday and the Heat was deadly from three-point range making half their attempts (14 of 28). Meanwhile the defense picked it up a notch and got some help from an early injury to Jayson Tatum and cold shooting from Jaylen Brown. Miami held Boston’s top two scorers to a combined 13 of 36 shooting and 33 points. The Heat went 4-0 as an NBA odds pick on the UNDER over the last four games.

Miami has not had much success against the Nuggets either straight up or as an NBA spread pick over the last few years. The Nuggets swept the season series and have won six straight games overall and nine of the last 10 while going 9-1 ATS in that span. And with Nikola Jokic having big games, the Nuggets cracked the code on Miami’s defense scoring at least 112 points while playing OVER the closing total in every game.

The Nuggets won in Miami in February playing without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Jokic picked up the slack with 27 points on 12 of 14 shooting with 12 rebounds and eight assists. That leads me to same-game parlays with plenty of player props available to choose from. Jokic is obviously the center of attention and with Bam Adebayo drawing the assignment of containing him I would expect Bam’s offensive numbers to take a hit.

No one on the Heat has been able to contain Jokic, who went for a triple-double in the first matchup between the clubs last December. Joker had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the 124-119 victory and has two triple-doubles and two near misses in his last four games against the Heat. He’s also averaging a triple-double this postseason. No one collects a 3×2 as easily and regularly as Jokic so taking a risk on him in Game 1 looks like a good play.

As far as the game goes I think the 10 days of rest the Nuggets had after sweeping the Lakers will have an impact, at least early in the game. The club took precautions but there’s nothing like live action to get players going. With Miami getting points from several players other than Jimmy Butler they will keep the game close so I have to back the visitors as a NBA pick against the spread.

NBA Finals Game 1 Same Game Parlay Pick: Miami Heat +8 / OVER 219

Check out the latest NBA betting odds at BetRivers.