Golden State (3-0) at Cleveland (0-3)
When: Friday, June 8th 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -5/216
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were unstoppable in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, but neither could find their groove when the series shifted to Cleveland for Game 3. That didn’t matter, because Kevin Durant made up for it with a spectacular 43-point performance in helping the Golden State Warrior to within one win of their second consecutive championship and third in four years. With the Cavaliers trailing 103-100 late in the game on Wednesday, Durant calmly drained a 33-footer, which effectively ended the fourth straight Finals matchup between the two teams who have gotten to know each other well since 2015. Golden State will now have four chances to wrap up its title, starting with Game 4 on Friday night. LeBron James scored 33 points and Kevin Love added 20 for the Cavs, who have fallen into a hole that no team has ever emerged. Cleveland came back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, but teams that are down 0-3 in the Finals are 0-13. The Warriors know what happened two years ago and don’t plan on letting up. “You never know, crazy things that can happen, turn of events in a series that could take place,” Golden State forward Draymond Green told reporters. “So you have the opportunity to close out, you want to do that. So you come in, take full advantage of the opportunity in front of us.” The Warriors won Game 3 despite a 3-for-16 shooting performance from Curry, but came up big down the stretch, hitting a scoop shot that put his team up 98-97.
Defensive specialist Andre Iguodala, who didn’t play in Games 1 or 2 because of knee injury, came up with a steal under the basket late and finished with eights points in 22 minutes. Durant’s huge night helped offset a rough night for Curry, who made a Finals-record nine three-pointers in Game 2, but was just 1-of-10 from long range and didn’t hit his second field goal until there were less than three minutes remaining. JaVale McGee got the start at center once again and scored 10 points in 14 minutes including three baskets right after halftime to get the Warriors rolling in the second half.
James could be playing his final game for Cleveland (again) before entering the free agent market. The three-time champion can opt out of his $35.6 million contract and test free agency this summer, and it may be time for him to find a team capable of beating the Warriors. The Cavaliers simply do not have the team that can compete with Golden State right now, and have no chance at winning this series. Rodney Hood had a decent Game 3 with increased minutes (15 points, 7-of-11 shooting), but was a -12 in the plus/minus category. Sharpshooter Kyle Korver is averaging 1.3 points on 1-of-10 shooting in the series.
I just can’t make a case for backing Cleveland in this game unless Golden State just doesn’t care and wants to win it back on their home court. The Warriors still remember losing two years ago being up 3-1, so they’re a veteran enough team to keep pushing. I can see a similar game as we saw on Wednesday, with Cleveland hanging around, but ultimately the Warriors pulling away at the end.
Pick: Warriors -4.5
- Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Warriors are 8-18 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win.
- Warriors are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Central.
- Warriors are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.
- Warriors are 6-17 ATS in their last 23 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.
- Cavaliers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 Friday games.
- Over is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 NBA Championship games.
- Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 8-2 in Warriors last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 10-3 in Warriors last 13 overall.
- Under is 20-7 in Warriors last 27 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 20-7-1 in Warriors last 28 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Warriors last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 20-8 in Warriors last 28 road games.
- Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Cavaliers last 7 NBA Championship games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 12-5 in Cavaliers last 17 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 9-4 in Cavaliers last 13 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5 in Cavaliers last 16 home games.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
- Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
