Houston (1-2) at Golden State (2-1)
When: Tuesday, May 22nd 2018
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Golden State -9/224
After the Houston Rockets Game 2 blowout victory over the Golden State Warriors, there was much talk about what was wrong with Steph Curry, and if the Rockets were about to dethrone the defending champions. Curry answered those critics emphatically with his play in Game 3, as the Warriors took back control of their best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series with the Rockets in a 41-point route. The two-time NBA MVP scored 35 points with five 3-pointers, shooting over everyone including James Harden and driving past him as Golden State made a second-half statement to take a 2-1 series lead. Curry had 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting alone in the third quarter, and showed extreme emotion, pumping up the Oracle Arena crowd. It was the Warriors largest margin of victory in the postseason, topping a 39-point win by the Philadelphia Warriors against the St. Louis Bombers in 1948. Harden had 20 points and nine assists, while Chris Paul added 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the two shot a combined 12-of-32 as Golden State’s defense showed more intensity than in Game 2. The Rockets, who scored 127 points on 51.1% shooting while winning 127-105 in Game 2, suffered the worst playoff loss in franchise history in Game 3. “It’s just one thing led to another,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters. “Played soft, actually. I mean, you can’t do that with these guys. These guys are good.”
Houston shot a dismal 39.5% from the floor, including 11-of-34 from beyond the arc, and committed 20 turnovers leading to 28 points on Sunday. Harden attempted just 16 field goals after averaging 24 attempts in the first two games and attempted a series-low five free throws, converting four. Shooting guard Eric Gordon slumped to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in Game 3 after recording 27 points on 8-of-15 in Game 2, and Paul is only 5-of-20 from 3-point land in the series.
Curry started off slow on Sunday (3-of-11 in the first half), but his perfect third quarter ignited a run that put the game out of reach. Power forward Draymond Green was a force on the glass, bringing down 17 rebounds, while contributing 10 points and six assists while serving as the key to the team’s much-improved defensive effort. Kevin Durant had a series-low 25 points, but contributed a series-high in both assists (six) and rebounds (six) and is averaging 33.3 points on 52.9% over the last three games.
This series, along with the Eastern Conference, seems to be trending towards the home teams in a big way. Golden State and Houston were both completely different teams from Game 2 to 3, with one of the differences being the venue. The Warriors have now won 16 consecutive postseason games at Oracle Arena, and they will make it 17 on Tuesday. The spread has been bumped up after Sunday’s massacre, but I’m still laying the number as Curry has found his game again. Golden State’s defense plays much better at home.
Pick: Warriors -8.5
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Celtics are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 vs. NBA Central.
- Celtics are 24-9-1 ATS in their last 34 games following a ATS loss.
- Celtics are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up loss.
- Celtics are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Celtics are 25-10 ATS in their last 35 games overall.
- Celtics are 50-22-2 ATS in their last 74 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Celtics are 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Celtics are 39-19-2 ATS in their last 60 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Celtics are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Celtics are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Celtics are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
- Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Cavaliers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Cavaliers are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 home games.
- Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cavaliers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 road games.
- Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 13-2-1 in Celtics last 16 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 overall.
- Under is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 vs. NBA Central.
- Over is 14-3 in Celtics last 17 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 9-3 in Celtics last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 11-4 in Celtics last 15 Monday games.
- Over is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 10-3 in Cavaliers last 13 home games.
- Under is 6-2 in Cavaliers last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Celtics are 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
- Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
