Cleveland (0-1) at Golden State (1-0)
When: Sunday, June 3rd 2018
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -12.5/216
If the Cleveland Cavaliers want to make this year’s NBA Finals interesting, they need to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. They didn’t do that in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors and now must put that behind them and focus on Game 2 – set for Sunday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. By now you’ve heard about JR Smith’s blunder in the closing seconds of Game 1 when instead of going straight back up after a rebound underneath in a tie game, dribbled the ball back towards mid-court and the Cavaliers couldn’t get another shot off in regulation. The Warriors then used the overtime period to easily put away Cleveland 124-114. Smith insists that he knew the game was tied, but not one person I’ve talked to believes that. Superstar LeBron James did all he could on Thursday to carry his team to the upset win, pouring in 51 points (fourth-most in Finals history), but it wasn’t enough. He was tired of answering questions afterwards about Smith’s blunder, that he finally walked out of the interview room. “We lost a tough game. It’s over. It’s behind us,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. “We did a lot of great things in that game, so we’ve got to carry it over. We’ve got to play better on Sunday. We’ve got to expect that they’re going to play better, so we have to play better on Sunday. I know we’re capable of doing that.”
James turned in one of the great performances in NBA Finals history in Game 1 with eight rebounds and eight assists to go along with his 51 points, but he needs more help from his teammates going forward. Only Kevin Love (21 points) and Smith (10) joined James with double-digit points in Game 1. Love will not be suspended by the league for coming off the bench and stepping onto the floor during a skirmish at the end of overtime in the series opener.
Golden State shot 51.1% from the floor and 95% from the free-throw line while committing just eight turnovers in Game 1 but still needed overtime to get past the pesky Cavaliers. The Warriors will need to rebound better in Game 2, as they allowed Cleveland to grab 19 offensive rebounds. Stephen Curry led the offense with 29 points and nine assists while Draymond Green turned in a strong all-around performance with 13 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, five steals and a pair of blocks.
I expect the Warriors to put more focus on the defensive rebounds as Cleveland got too many second chances in Game 1. I don’t know how this Cavaliers team picks themselves up from the previous game, but James will find a way to motivate his team enough to keep this one close once again.
Pick: Cavaliers +11.5
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Cavaliers are 5-14 ATS in their last 19 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Cavaliers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Warriors are 12-25 ATS in their last 37 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Warriors are 6-18 ATS in their last 24 games following a straight up win.
- Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Warriors are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Over is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 NBA Championship games.
- Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 Sunday games.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cavaliers last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Cavaliers last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 16-7 in Cavaliers last 23 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Sunday games.
- Over is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 NBA Championship games.
- Under is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Warriors last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Warriors last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 20-7-1 in Warriors last 28 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 14-6 in Warriors last 20 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 8-3-2 in the last 13 meetings in Golden State.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
