Toronto (2-1) at Golden State (1-2)
When: Friday, June 7th, 2019
Where: Oracle Arena,
Oakland, California
Time: 9:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -4.5/216
Many people agreed at the beginning of the season that barring any key injuries, the Golden State Warriors were a lock to win another title. Well, the injuries have hit in a big way and now the Warriors are in an almost ‘must-win’ situation at home when they host Game 4 of the NBA Finals Friday against the Toronto Raptors. This could also be the last game ever at Oracle Arena, which opened in 1966 and is the oldest venue in the NBA, beating New York’s Madison Square Garden by two years. Golden State would have to win one of the next two games to assure a Game 6 back in Oakland. With Klay Thompson (hamstring) active but not playing, and both Kevin Durant (calf) and Kevon Looney (collarbone) unavailable, the Warriors were at a clear disadvantage during Wednesday’s Game 3 despite being 3-point home favorites at the close. Toronto prevailed 123-109 despite a 47-point effort from Stephen Curry and have held Golden State to 109 points in their last two victories. Thompson was lobbying the team to allow him to play Wednesday, but the Warriors decided to keep him as healthy as possible for a potential return in Game 4. Durant has already been ruled out for Friday, while Looney is out indefinitely. For the second straight game, OG Anunoby (appendectomy) was active for Toronto, but didn’t see the floor as the Raptors went seven deep for most of the night. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Game 5 will be back in Toronto on Monday night as the teams will get both Saturday and Sunday off.
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Every time the Warriors got the crowd involved with a mini-run, Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green or Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet would hit a big shot to keep the lead comfortable. Green drained 6-for-10 from 3-point land, while Lowry had five three-pointers and 23 points. VanVleet had 11 off the bench and Serge Ibaka was solid on defense with six blocks. The Raptors became just the third team in Finals history to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
With Durant and Thompson out, Curry put everything on his shoulders and took a whopping 31 shots, only two fewer than the rest of the starters. Other Warriors were left open all night and just couldn’t consistently hit jumpers including center DeMarcus Cousins, who was 1-for-7 shooting and turned it over three times. It’s likely, though, that Thompson returns from his hamstring injury on Friday as he was active in Game 3.
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I’m pretty sure Thompson will be back because the Warriors really need this win, but Toronto is really good. They’re a better team than those LeBron-led Cleveland teams that faced Golden State for several years. The Warriors could pull this out, but I expect a close game.
Pick: Raptors +5
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Pacific.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Raptors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Western Conference.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.
Warriors are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Warriors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.
Warriors are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS loss.
Warriors are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Friday games.
Warriors are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
Warriors are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Over is 6-1 in Raptors last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1-3 in Raptors last 9 Friday games.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-3 in Raptors last 16 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 overall.
Over is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3-1 in Raptors last 12 road games.
Under is 8-3-1 in Raptors last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Friday games.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-2 in Warriors last 11 NBA Championship games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Warriors last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 6-2-1 in Warriors last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Over is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in Golden State.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Golden State.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
