The Golden State Warriors didn’t get Steph Curry back for their first game of the Western Conference Semifinals, and it didn’t matter. The rest of his star-studded team proved to have plenty of firepower as the Warriors cruised past the New Orleans Pelicans to take an early series lead.
Golden State can take control of this series by adding another victory when these teams face off this week in Game 2. The Warriors will be the sizable favorites and the Pelicans need to find some way to stay close and hope to pull the upset.
Golden State looked fantastic the first time out and hopes to keep it rolling in this matchup in NBA basketball gambling.
Game 2 of this NBA Playoff Series is on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 10:30 p.m. ET at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The contest will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Odds Analysis
The Warriors are listed as 10.5-point favorites to win Game 2 and take a commanding lead in this series. Despite the big spread, Golden State is getting the majority of the action to cover.
The scoring total is listed at 226.5 points as the oddsmakers believe this game will be a shootout. The pace should be feverish, and the majority of the money is on the “over.”
The Warriors are heavy -900 favorites to win this game on the moneyline, while New Orleans is listed as +614 underdogs to pull the upset. At that price, it’s not a surprise to see the Pelicans get the most action on the moneyline.
Last Time Out
The Warriors outscored New Orleans by 20 points in the second quarter and cruised to the 123-101 victory. Klay Thompson had a big game, finishing with 27 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Kevin Durant added 26 points and 13 rebounds while Draymond Green finished with a triple-double, registering 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists.
It was an impressive performance from Golden State’s stars, who proved to be too much for New Orleans. Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but it was a relatively quiet night for the star big man. Davis need to have a bigger showing in Game 2, while Jrue Holiday has to give him more support.
Injury Report
Curry sat for Game 1 but is expected to make his return to the court for this contest. It is a big boost as the already-potent Warriors add one of the best players in the NBA back into their rotation.
Curry has missed several weeks with a sprained knee and may be a little bit rusty to start, but his mere presence makes it impossible for a defense to adequately defend all of Golden State’s weapons. Keep an eye on his status leading up to tip, but Curry seems poised to return, which is more good news for a Warriors team that is already playing well.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Warriors are going to be intent on winning this game and making quick work of the Pelicans in this series. The crowd should be electric and Curry’s return makes the team that much better. Look for Golden State to blow away New Orleans once again early on, as even this double-digit spread is not high enough.
The Warriors are the pick to cruise to a Game 2 victory in NBA basketball wagering. The “under” is the play as Golden State should be so far ahead in the fourth quarter that the pace will slow down. The Pelicans are just not talented enough to stay competitive, especially on the road.
NBA ATS Pick: Warriors 117, Pelicans 104
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