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Game 5 Heat vs Nuggets Player Props to Target

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball

Updated Jun 12, 2023 · 8:55 AM PDT

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope goes up for a loose ball with Bam Adebayo.
Jun 7, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) reaches for the ball against Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) in game three of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
  • Heat vs Nuggets player props are live for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night
  • Max Strus is shooting 16.1% from the field through four games of this series
  • Don’t miss the best Heat vs Nuggets player prop targets and same-game parlay picks for Game 5 here

If history is any indication, it won’t be long before the Nuggets are hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. Denver has a commanding 3-1 lead over Miami in the NBA Finals, and only time has a team ever erased a deficit that large in the Championship Round.

Game 5 tips off Monday in Colorado, where the Nuggets are once again big favorite in the NBA odds. We’re not interested in betting against the spread however, as our attention is dialed in on the player props and same-game parlay markets.

Heat vs Nuggets Player Props – Game 5

Prop Odds
Max Strus Under 7.5 Points -115
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Under 7.5 Points -120

Our Miami vs Denver player props card starts with a fade of Miami’s Max Strus, who’s displayed some truly horrific shooting numbers during the NBA Finals. His poor performance has also seen his minutes cut, which reduces his potential ceiling.

 

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NBA Finals Player Prop #1: Max Strus Under 7.5 Points

Strus was shut out in Game 4, much like he was in Game 1. He’s scored three points or less in three of the four games this series, shooting a woeful 16.1% from the field.

After averaging 25 minutes per outing in Games 1 and 2, Strus saw his minutes trimmed to 24 minutes in Game 3 and only 19 minutes in Game 4. He finished 1-of-11 from the field in Games 3 and 4, prompting Erik Spoelstra to look elsewhere for spot up shooting.

The Heat found that with Duncan Robinson on Friday, and it’s clear Miami would rather have him or Caleb Martin on the floor instead of Strus given his playoff performance.

Pick: Max Strus Under 7.5 Points (-115)

NBA Finals Player Prop #2:  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Under 7.5 Points

You know the old saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”? Well, we’re going to put that theory to the text again in Game 5 when it comes to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

KCP has failed to eclipse seven points in any of the first four games of the NBA Finals, yet online sportsbooks refuse to adjust his points prop. Given the amount of minutes he logs, it’s certainly possible Caldwell-Pope finally gets to eight points in Game 5, but his usage suggests otherwise.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Stats – Last Four Games

MIN FG PTS
36 2-5 7
28 1-4 6
36 1-4 6
36 3-8 7

KCP is a volume based scorer. He averaged 11 points per game during the regular season, shooting just 46% from the field. If he earns eight shots per start like he did during the regular season, he’ll likely exceed his prop. The good news for us is that he hasn’t been close recently to getting that many looks.

Caldwell-Pope is averaging five shots per game in the NBA Finals, making only 33% of his attempts. There’s too many mouths to feed right now on the Nuggets with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon all playing out of their minds, freeing up KCP to focus on what he does best, which is defend.

Pick: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Under 7.5 Points (-120)

Heat vs Nuggets Same-Game Parlay Picks

Moving over to the same-game parlay streets, where we’re targeting more production from the Denver offense and Gordon.

Heat vs Nuggets Game 5 Same-Game Parlay

Picks Odds
Nuggets Over 103.5 Points -230
Aaron Gordon 20+ Pts + Reb -135
Jimmy Butler Under 27.5 points -140
Same-Game Parlay Odds +280

Our Heat vs Nuggets same-game parlay starts with over 104.5 points for Denver, a number the NBA Championship odds favorites have consistently sailed over at home this season. The Nuggets lead the playoffs in offensive rating, and have scored at least 104 points in all but one of their home playoff dates so far.

Gordon meanwhile, continues to be undervalued by oddsmakers, as he’s having the series of a lifetime. The 27-year-old is fresh off a 27 point effort, and has cleared 20.5 points and rebounds in four of his past five outings. He’s shooting a ridiculous 66.7% from the field, and 71.4% from three against the Heat.

As for the Miami side of this SGP, we’ll be fading Jimmy Butler. Playoff Jimmy is not 100% thanks to a bum ankle, and his offensive play has been uninspiring. Butler is averaging only 20.5 points per game in the NBA Finals, with zero 30 point efforts.

He hasn’t had a 30 point outing since Game 1 versus the Celtics in the East Final, falling below 28 points in seven of his past 10 starts.

Pick: Same-Game Parlay (+280)

 

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