The Golden State Warriors have been massive favorites all year. Golden State was the odds-on favorite to win the NBA title this season, and the Warriors entered their first round series with the Los Angeles Clippers as an unbelievable -10000 favorite. The Warriors were even money to sweep their series with the Clippers, and while that bet ended up being a loser, they are huge favorites to close out their series tonight.
This game will take place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on April 24, 2019, and the game will be broadcast on TNT.
NBA Opening Lines at BookMaker.eu
Golden State Warriors -14 vs. Los Angeles Clippers, O/U 235
Series Recap
This series would have already been over if Golden State didn’t blow a 31-point lead in Game 2 against the Clip Show. Golden State made Game 1 a laugher in the second half, and Game 2 was well on its way to being a blowout too. Lou Williams and the Clippers showed a lot of heart in the second half though, shooting the lights out and putting up 85 points after halftime to stun the Warriors. Golden State wiped the Clippers off the court in Game 3, but Game 4 on Sunday night was a much closer affair. After a strong start, the Clippers rallied back behind a strong performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson were too much to overcome.
Injury Report
Unfortunately for the Warriors, there one year gamble with DeMarcus Cousins didn’t pay off. Cousins was one of the best big men in the league before he ruptured his Achilles tendon last season, and he spent most of this year recovering from that injury. He spent some time playing himself into shape and looked like he was rounding into form before going down with a torn quad in Game 2. He will be out the rest of the playoffs. Damian Jones will miss the rest of the postseason too.
There are no injuries to report on the side of the Clippers.
Matchup to Watch
The war of the words between Kevin Durant and Patrick Beverley has simmered down some as Durant has been the best player on the court for each of the last two games. Durant led the Warriors in scoring in Game 3 and Game 4 with 38 and 33 points respectively, and he has hit over 50 percent of his field goals in every game of the series. He has turned the ball over a bit too much with 20 turnovers in four games, but he has more than made up for it with his efficiency.
Beverley will be trying to play mind games with Durant once again, but the superstar is unlikely to be fazed once more.
Player to Watch
Steph Curry has been in foul trouble throughout this series, and his propensity to pick up ticky tack fouls is something to watch. He has garnered at least four fouls in each game and a quick five fouls in Game 3 led Curry to only play 20 minutes. Curry is the best shooter in the league by a wide margin, so he needs to try to avoid the senseless fouls that have plagued him throughout this series.
Game 5 Preview
The Warriors have made some adjustments to limit the efficacy of two players that had been killing them. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams had been having great performances for the Clippers, but Steve Kerr has responded by playing more Andrew Bogut with Cousins out, and that has helped slow down Harrell. He is keying on Williams when the Clippers have the ball, making anyone else beat them. That means another player like SGA will have to come through.
Prediction
One of the big factors for the Warriors over the last two games has been their ability to beat the Clippers on the glass. Bogut has helped, but the guards are playing very close to the paint and aren’t afraid to crash, and that has led to guys like Steph Curry grabbing a lot of rebounds. That has given the Warriors another option, but I think Doc Rivers will find an effective counter. I see Golden State winning Game 5, yet the Clippers get the cover.
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