Golden State (2-0) at Portland (0-2)
When: Saturday, May 18th, 2019
Where: Moda Center,
Portland, Oregon
Time: 9:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Portland -2.5/220
After cruising past the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors probably thought they could sleep-walk through Game 2. The Blazers had other ideas and controlled the game for almost three quarters before Golden State decided to get serious. The Warriors escaped with the victory to take a 2-0 series advantage as they head up the coast to Portland for Games 3 and 4. Golden State breezed to a 116-94 win in Game 1 but needed 37 points from Stephen Curry to help pull out of a 17-point hole in Game 2 and escape with a 114-111 victory. Draymond Green lobbed to Kevon Looney for a go-ahead hoop with 52.9 seconds remaining, then converted a Stephen Curry assist into a layup of his own 40 seconds later, as the Warriors used their inside game in the fourth quarter to help fuel the comeback. Warriors standout Kevin Durant, who along with frontcourt mate DeMarcus Cousins missed the first two games, already has been ruled out of both Portland games because of a strained right calf. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the third quarter and by eight with just 4:28 to play, Golden State scored 14 of the game’s final 17 points and head coach Steve Kerr knows they got away with one. “We stole that game,” Kerr said afterward. “They outplayed us for the majority of the night, but we brought enough competitive fire in the second half to overcome their great play.” The Blazers led 108-100 after a 3-pointer by Meyers Leonard with 4:28 left before the Warriors scored 10 straight, the final three on three free throws by Curry with 2:01 to go. “You hate to lose a game, but I think we showed that we can compete with them,” Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “It was a much better game than we played in Game 1. So we’ve got to take that into Game 3.” Game 4 will be Monday night.
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Curry and Klay Thompson are being asked to step up with Durant out of the lineup for at least two more games and have combined to average 61.5 points in the first two games. Green has also been a force with Durant sidelined, contributing 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in Thursday’s win. Thompson added 24 points, Looney 14 and Jordan Bell 11 for Golden State, which outshot Portland 51.2 percent to 44.2 and outrebounded them 50-37. Looney went 6-of-6 from the floor on Thursday and is shooting 71.9 percent in the postseason. Golden State has lost just once in their last 11 playoff games against Portland.
Curry and Thompson outplayed Portland’s star backcourt of Lillard and CJ McCollum, who combined to go 15-of-39 from the floor in Game 2. Lillard finished with 23 points and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers, who lost despite outscoring Golden State 54-27 on 3-pointers. McCollum was right behind Lillard with 22 points, followed by Seth Curry at 16, and Maurice Harkless and Rodney Hood with 12 apiece Lillard, who went 3-of-17 in the clinching Game 7 against Denver in the Western Conference semifinals, is 10-of-28 from the floor against Golden State so far. Curry matched his postseason high with 16 points off the bench in Game 2, while Hood is averaging 14.5 points off the bench in the series.
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Portland definitely played better in Game 2, and are actually favored here in Game 3. Golden State will need to be focused from the opening tip and my though is that they will. The Warriors are 10-1 against Portland in their last 11 playoff matchups, so I’ll take the points here.
Pick: Warriors +2.5
Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
Warriors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss.
Warriors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Conference Finals games.
Warriors are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 Saturday games.
Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Trail Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 27-13 ATS in their last 40 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Trail Blazers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Over is 3-0-1 in Warriors last 4 road games.
Over is 3-0-1 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 3-0-1 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 Saturday games.
Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 Conference Finals games.
Over is 6-1-1 in Warriors last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1-1 in Warriors last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games following a straight up win.
Over is 3-1-1 in Warriors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 20-7 in Warriors last 27 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 11-4-1 in Warriors last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 16-6 in Warriors last 22 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 19-6-1 in Trail Blazers last 26 home games.
Over is 6-2 in Trail Blazers last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 12-4 in Trail Blazers last 16 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 21-7 in Trail Blazers last 28 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 26-9-2 in Trail Blazers last 37 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 5-2 in Trail Blazers last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Trail Blazers last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Trail Blazers last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 20-8 in Trail Blazers last 28 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings in Portland.
Over is 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.
