The Cavs get to go home and aim to rally like they did on the way to last year’s title, but it won’t be easy against a Golden State team playing at an elite level. The Warriors are slight favorites even on the road, and this is a turning point game in this series.
All indications are that the Warriors are going to roll to the title, but Cleveland is hoping it can make a stand in this one and sow some doubt into Golden State. Tune in for an intriguing contest between these teams.
This series will continue on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will be televised live on ABC.
NBA Odds
The Warriors were 7.5- and 9-point favorites in the first two games and easily covered both times. They won Game 2 by a 132-113 margin. They are listed as two-point favorites in Game 3 as the oddsmakers expect a more competitive game now that the location has moved to Cleveland. The early action is backing Golden State.
The scoring total is listed at 225.5. The first game was comfortably “under” the scoring total while the second was “over.” The result in this one may depend on the competitiveness of the contest. The first one slowed down considerably because it was such a blowout. The Warriors will need to keep their foot on the gas in Game 3 if the Cavs are close, which could push the total over.
Golden State is now 81-15 straight up and 50-42-4 against the spread. The Warriors have covered in five consecutive games as they have really hit a groove in the postseason. Golden State is 25-21-1 against the spread on the road this season and 48-41-4 against the spread as the favorite.
The Cavaliers are 63-34 straight up and 43-50-4 against the spread. Cleveland is 21-24-2 against the spread as the favorite on the year and has now only covered in five of 17 tries as the underdog.
Last Time Out
Kevin Durant was once again a monster in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, scoring 33 points while adding 13 rebounds and five blocks. He has been the best player in the series, and is a huge change from last year’s finals when he was still on Oklahoma City.
Stephen Curry was also impressive, finishing with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. That duo has been dominant in the first two games and are so hard to contain for Cleveland. LeBron James had 29 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for Cleveland, but Kyrie Irving struggled from the floor.
Golden State shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 41.9 percent from three-point range, and if it continues to shoot that well the Cavs are going to have to be on fire to stay competitive.
Key Stat
Zero. That’s how many losses the Warriors have suffered in the playoffs. They swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs, the Utah Jazz in the second round and the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. The first two wins over Cleveland have pushed their consecutive wins streak to 14 to start the postseason, which is the best in NBA history.
Golden State has led by 20 points in each of the first two games of this series and will look to continue to roll. The Warriors beat the Blazers, Jazz and Spurs twice each on the road and if they even simply split the games in Cleveland, the championship will be very close to going back to Golden State.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Cavaliers are going to be going full throttle knowing their season is on the line, and a vintage game from James could propel them to a victory. Another key thing will be good play from the role players on the team, which seems more likely to happen at home.
Cleveland should stay in this one and may very well lead the game at halftime. However, the Warriors are making their case as one of the best teams of all-time. Golden State should capture this game and cover the spread to take a commanding 3-0 series lead and all but wrap up the title.
NBA Odds: Warriors 113, Cavaliers 108
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