The No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers (7-2 SU, 4-5 ATS) can advance to the Eastern Conference Final if they get by the No. 3 Chicago Bulls (6-5 SU, 8-3 ATS) Thursday. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
Behind an MVP type effort from LeBron James, the Cavaliers took out the Bulls 106-101 Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in their testy series. Cleveland can wrap up the best-of-seven series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2009 with a win Thursday.
The Bulls staged a dramatic comeback and nearly pulled out an improbable victory. Instead they suffered their second straight loss to the Cavaliers and are now on the verge of being eliminated by the favored team to win the East. Chicago is 3-2 at home during the postseason and the teams exchanged buzzer-beating victories last weekend.
KEY INJURY
The Bulls were without center Pau Gasol for the second straight game with a strained left hamstring and didn’t sound confident that he’d be ready to play by Thursday. Also, guard Derrick Rose aggravated a shoulder stinger that he sustained in Game One.
According to the Cavaliers, guard Kyrie Irving underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed tendonitis in his left knee. Irving said the leg started to bother him as he overcompensated for his sore right foot, an injury he sustained in Game Two of the Cavs first-round sweep of Boston.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I’d rather give 30 percent, 40 percent, rather than give none at all. I just literally can’t do it. I can’t sit on the bench and be hurt and be OK with that. And still, I still know I can be effective.” – Cavs guard Kyrie Irving on his injuries
BETTING TRENDS
- Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall.
- Chicago is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 home games.
- The UNDER is 5-2 in Cleveland’s last seven road games.
KEY STATS
3: LeBron James joined Shaquille O’Neal and Larry Bird as the only players with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in a playoff game since 1978.
4: The Bulls held a 10-point lead in the first quarter Tuesday but made just four of 22 field goals in the second quarter and finished 34 of 86 for 39.5 percent.
12: Cavs forward Tristan Thompson, starting in place of injured Kevin Love, had 12 points and 10 rebounds Monday for his second double-double in three games.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
LeBron James showed why he’s Cleveland’s best player. The four-time NBA MVP was locked in from the beginning, imposing his will on a game the Cavs had to have. James showed no ill effects from an ankle injury sustained Sunday and scored 38 points with 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals, three blocks, and, most importantly, didn’t have a turnover in 41 minutes. Kyrie Irving added 25 points and Tristan Thompson, starting in place of Kevin Love, had 12 points and 10 rebounds. But the most important play came from Matthew Dellavedova, who, while on his stomach, scissor-locked Taj Gibson. In an attempt to free himself, Gibson kicked his legs away from the Cavs guard and, for some reason, got tossed from the game while Dellavedova, who instigated the play, got no punishment. Can you say home town officiating.
With their backs against the wall the Bulls will need to perform much better than they have the past two games or they can break out the golf clubs. The Bulls went through another horrid stretch when they couldn’t hit their rear end with both hands and it cost them. Derrick Rose started hot scoring 12 points in the first quarter then disappeared over the final three with four points on 2 of 15 shooting. Jimmy Butler scored 29 but missed a potential game-tying field goal late.
Now we don’t know the extent of Pau Gasol’s injury, but with your season on the line the Bulls top frontcourt player is sitting on the bench while LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, both of whom are also injured, are out there busting their tails for the team. The talk of Pau Gasol being a soft player is starting to heat up. For all that went wrong Tuesday, the Bulls had a chance with a furious comeback and with a couple of breaks the outcome could’ve been different. That’s how close this series is and that’s why it goes to a seventh game.
Chicago 105, Cleveland 99
BookMaker will be the first to send out the NBA spread for this game. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
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