Durant’s availability is up in the air again for Game 3, and if he is absent in that one, it is a bigger deal as Portland will return home and have a better chance at winning. The Blazers have no legitimate shot to win this series now that they are down 2-0, but this could be the best opportunity for them to steal one game.
While Golden State should still be the favorite, Portland could make a run at the upset, especially if Durant remains on the shelf.
This war on the floor will go down Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Saturday schedule.
NBA Odds
The Warriors are 69-15 straight up this season and have gone 41-39-4 against the spread after easily covering last time out. Golden State is 19-21-1 against the spread on the road this season. The Warriors have gone 39-38-4 against the spread as the favorite.
The Trail Blazers are 41-43 straight up and have covered in 41 of their 84 games. Portland is 22-19 against the spread at home on the year and is 17-20 against the spread as the underdog.
The spread has been in the double digits the first two times these teams played in the postseason, but it should be in single digits in this one.
Last Time Out
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson didn’t shoot very well from the field, but Golden State locked down in the second half and cruised to the 110-81 win. The Blazers scored only 12 points in the third quarter as the Warriors took complete control.
Javale McGee played really well, scoring 15 points while adding five rebounds and four blocks. Golden State is tough enough to stop with Curry, Thompson, Durant and Draymond Green paired up together. If the role players do well, it’s goodnight for any opponent.
Damian Lillard had only 12 points on 5-of-17 from the field, while C.J. McCollum had 11 points and missed 13 of his 17 shots. If those two aren’t great, the Blazers are in big trouble, as was evidenced in Game 2.
Injury Report
The Warriors actually had three players missing for Game 2. Durant strained his calf in Game 1, and while he finished the contest, coach Steve Kerr decided to err on the side of caution and rest him. Durant scored 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting and added 11 rebounds despite the issue. Keep a close eye on news reports to see if Durant returns for the next game.
Kerr may decide to rest him again with Golden State ahead 2-0 against an inferior opponent. Golden State’s true test won’t likely come until the Western Conference Finals.
Point guard Shaun Livingston and swingman Matt Barnes both missed the game as well. Livingston is battling finger and hand injuries, while Barnes is dealing with an ankle issue. Their presence isn’t as important, but if all three sit again it will test Golden State’s depth.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Warriors dominated without Durant in Game 2, which could cloud judgments in this one. The Blazers will be the underdogs, but if Golden State has to give too many points, this game seems ripe for a Portland cover.
Lillard and McCollum should play well in front of their home crowd and help the Blazers give an inspired performance. If Durant doesn’t play, Portland could very well pull this upset, so keep an eye to see how he is progressing.
The scoring total will likely be high again, and the “over” could be the right play since Portland should bounce back and shoot better in this one.
NBA Odds: Trail Blazers 113, Warriors 111
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