The Golden State Warriors (15-5 SU, 10-10 ATS) can claim their first NBA Championship in 40 years with win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS) Tuesday. You can watch the game live on ABC.
The Warriors moved within one win of claiming their first title since 1975 by wearing down the depleted Cavaliers with a late surge for a 104-91 win on Sunday to take a 3-2 series lead. The Warriors have been favored in each game of the Finals and all but one game in this postseason. That trend will continue on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers are facing elimination for the first time in this postseason following their Game 5 loss and need one last stand to force an anything-goes seventh game. Unlike Game 4, the Cavaliers hung tight but got worn down in the latter stages.
KEY INJURY
Warriors guard Stephen Curry was treated for dehydration after the game but is fine according to the team. Also, LeBron James showed no ill effects from the gash he sustained on his head in Game 4 when he crashed into a television on the baseline after getting pushed from behind by Andrew Bogut.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“LeBron has been ... tremendous is even an understatement for how he’s played in the series. He had another one of those days. Under the current set of circumstances, that’s what we’ve got to get, and he’s bringing it.” – Cavaliers coach David Blatt on the play of LeBron James
BETTING TRENDS
- Golden State is 5-3 ATS in its last eight games overall.
- Cleveland is 3-5 ATS in its last eight home games.
- The UNDER is 6-1-1 in the last eight head-to-head meetings.
KEY STATS
40: LeBron James scored 40 points on Sunday, his third game with at least that many in the series, and added 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double and is just the fourth player in history with multiple triple-doubles in a Finals.
14: Making his second start in the series, Warriors forward Andre Iguodala had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists without a turnover. He was, however, just 2 of 11 from the free throw line.
17: Stephen Curry scored 37 points Sunday making 7 of 13 three-pointers with 17 of his points coming in the fourth quarter.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It was a typical Warriors game, what we’ve become accustomed to seeing all season. Golden State wore the Cavaliers down with their depth and Stephen Curry threw the dagger with a barrage of three-pointers from seemingly impossible angles and distances, leaving the Cavs shaking their heads. “Not a lot you can do, honestly. He made some terrific shots,” Cavs coach David Blatt said. The decision by coach Steve Kerr to insert Andre Iguodala into the starting has paid off in a pair of wins but his inability to make free throws – he was just 2 of 11 Sunday – may cost him playing time.
It certainly would have been a different series if the Cavaliers had Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love or both. But they don’t and it’s up to who they do have to extend this series to the limit. LeBron James has done all he can but hasn’t got the help he needs to prevent the Cavs from falling behind. Tristan Thompson had his finest game of the series and it looked like J.R. Smith was about to go off on Sunday, but he cooled in the second half just like the rest of the Cavs.
Cleveland will have a better showing on their own floor than they did in Game 4. And the Cavs still have the best player in the world and as long as the games are being played LeBron isn’t going to concede anything. “I feel confident because I’m the best player in the world,” said James, who has carried the Cavs as much as he could. As much as the Warriors don’t want a Game 7, LeBron and the Cavs have a different view. This one goes the distance.
Cleveland 98, Golden State 95
The NBA odds for this game will first open at BookMaker sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next half. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will start at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Quicken Loans Arena. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
