The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics resume their first-round series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs with Game 2 Wednesday night. The Celtics took Game 1 114-94 in a contest where they hit 22 three-pointers, something the Heat simply couldn’t overcome. Miami hopes to flip the script in Game 2, while Boston looks to hold serve at home.
Here’s a look at one potential lineup strategy DFS Showdown managers could implement for this game.
Captain’s Picks
Jayson Tatum ($17,100) – It’s a steep price to pay but Tatum is probably the most bankable Boston player when it comes to consistency. He logged a triple-double without much fuss in Game 1 and hit 58 fantasy points despite going just 1-8 from deep. The star forward is likely to have a better shooting performance in Game 2, and that should open up opportunities to find teammates too. Tatum has been good on the glass this year, so those numbers should stay relatively consistent. He’s the best all-around player on the floor in this series and is a no-brainer selection in the captain’s spot.
Tyler Herro ($15,000) – Herro struggled in Game 1, going 4-13 from the floor en route to 11 points. That’s not good enough for the Heat, who will rely on their rising guard to provide offense with Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier out. Herro went for 51 fantasy points in the second play-in game, so the upside is there. As long as he sees a few shots go down early, he will have confidence to go for a big number tonight. Despite his dud in Game 1, I’d back him in the captain’s spot for Game 2.
FLEX Plays
Kristaps Porzingis ($9,000) – The big man had a solid showing in Game 1, going for 31.5 fantasy points behind a 4-8 performance from behind the arc. Porzingis has logged 30+ fantasy points in 10 straight games, going over 44 fantasy points in three instances and hitting 63 fantasy points as a high. He’s got consistency but also has upside, which is great for a flex play. Porzingis has a matchup advantage here with his height and ability to space the floor, so he should continue to be a force in Game 2.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($7,400) – So much for being a rookie. Jaquez Jr. was arguably the best Heat player on the floor in Game 1, racking up 28 fantasy points. The forward scored at least 15 points in 12 of his 20 starts during the regular season, so the production will be there as long as he continues to get the nod. With Jimmy Butler sidelined, the Heat need scoring from multiple places. Jaquez Jr. seems the most likely to provide it on a consistent basis. He’s a strong flex option tonight.
Fades
Derrick White ($8,400) – White exploded for 32.3 fantasy points in Game 1 after a rough showing in his last contest but he’s the most likely to take a backseat in this Boston offense. The guard has topped 30 fantasy points just twice in the last five games, and doesn’t seem to be delivering the highs required to feel good about spending this much money. There are better options at this price, so White can be left out of rosters.
Nikola Jovic ($4,600) – It’ll be tempting to back Jovic, who could start in this game. However, the second-year forward didn’t have the aggression needed to be a major factor in this series in Game 1. Even though he hit 20 fantasy points in Game 1, Jovic had three straight games below this threshold. He’ll get decent minutes but I’d keep him out of your lineup in this one.
The Outcome
The Heat will likely try to slow the game down a bit in an effort to keep pace with the Celtics but Boston’s efficiency has been largely unmatched this season. The Celtics should keep rolling at home and force the Heat to play on their terms, which is not a good development for Miami with Butler out. I think this game has a similar script to Game 1 where things are tight for a bit before the Celtics pull away completely.
Final score: Celtics 119, Heat 102
