The Cleveland Cavaliers (12-3 SU, 8-7 ATS) will try and even the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) Sunday in Game 2. You can watch the game live on ABC.
If Game 1 is an indication of what we can expect from this Finals series, basketball fans are in for a treat. The Warriors and Cavs were tied after three quarters and again after regulation ended producing the sixth overtime in a Game 1 in the Finals. The extra period wasn’t as exciting as the first four with the Warriors scoring the first 10 points while holding the Cavs scoreless for 4:52 to escape with a 108-100 win.
The Game 1 winner in the NBA Finals has a 48-20 series record and the Warriors can increase their percentage of winning their first title since 1975 with a win Sunday. The Cavaliers meanwhile are still in search of the franchise’s first Finals win after getting swept in their only previous appearance in 2007.
KEY INJURY
The Cavaliers have a bigger worry beyond losing Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Midway through the overtime period, guard Kyrie Irving slipped while making a move on Klay Thompson. He limped to his feet and tried to walk back on the court following a Cavs timeout. The injury was too much and Irving rerouted to the Cavs locker room, essentially sealing the Warriors victory. Irving will have an MRI in advance of Game 2 to determine the extent of the injury and a course of action. Irving departed Oracle Arena after Game 1 on crutches but was seen grinning and smiling.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I got to where I wanted to get, step back, made them before. It’s a make or miss league and we had our chances.” – Cavs forward LeBron James on his potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation
BETTING TRENDS
- Cleveland is 5-3 ATS in eight postseason road games.
- Golden State is 6-3 ATS in its last nine postseason games.
- The UNDER is 7-1-1 in Golden State’s nine home postseason games.
KEY STATS
21: Warriors guard Stephen Curry has made multiple three-pointers in 21 straight playoff games, tying Ray Allen’s NBA record.
1: The Cavs suffered their first loss in this postseason when LeBron James scored at least 30 points. James had a personal Finals-high 44 in the loss.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Cavs forward LeBron James did all he could to get his team a series-opening win, it just wasn’t enough. Now he’ll be relied even more if guard Kyrie Irving, who left the game in the overtime period with an apparent knee injury, is unable to contribute in Game 2. James scored a Finals best 44 points but couldn’t connect with time running out in regulation and his final two points came on a layup with eight seconds left in the extra session after the Warriors reeled off 10 straight to put the game away. “We’ve got to do more around him,” coach David Blatt said, referring to the lack of production from everyone except LeBron and Irving.
We’ve seen this from the Warriors all season. They are a relentless group that never believes they are out of a game. They had a miraculous 20-point comeback win on the road against New Orleans in the opening round and they started slowly Thursday, falling behind by 14 points in the first quarter. That’s nothing for the Dubs and they proved it again. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson again led the Warriors in scoring with 26 and 21 points respectively, but the Warriors depth was on full display with five double-figure scorers and 10 players producing at least one bucket. “That’s what we’ve been doing all year. Wearing teams down,” Thompson noted.
The Cavs played well enough to win the game but missed their last four field goals in regulation and first eight of overtime to seal their fate. At times the Cavs’ players were watching LeBron James, amazed by his abilities, and expecting him to bring home a win, forgetting that they too need to contribute. James Jones and Matthew Dellavedova were scoreless and JR Smith totaled just nine points. Cleveland was too predictable down the stretch and you could sense a letdown after two missed attempts for the win at the end of regulation. The Cavs must now respond without their point guard. That’s too much to overcome.
Golden State 105, Cleveland 99
BookMaker will be the first sportsbook to send out NBA odds for this game. 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! Bet on the NBA today as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors square off in Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET at Oracle Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.
