Golden State (0-0) at Toronto (0-0)
When: Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 9:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Toronto -2.5/215.5
The Toronto Raptors’ success this regular season against the Pacific Division – and most notably versus Golden State – is one reason they will have homecourt advantage in the 2019 NBA Finals. Game 1 will finally tipoff on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena in Ontario because the Raptors finished one game ahead of the Warriors during the regular season. Toronto won both regular season meetings and were a perfect 10-0 against the Pacific Division – the only club in the league with an unbeaten record against any division. It hadn’t happened since the Warriors did it vs. Southeast in 2015-16. Despite being small underdogs in Game 1, Golden State is heavy favorites (-300) to win the series and may have to do it without All-Star Kevin Durant. The Warriors don’t seem to mind Durant being out, as they’re 31-1 in games his misses, but Steph Curry plays. The status of Durant and DeMarcus Cousins are still up in the air, but neither are expected in Game 1. Golden State will tie for the longest layoff before an NBA Finals game with nine-days rest after sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. The Raptors needed six games to eliminate the NBA’s best team (record-wise) – the Milwaukee Bucks – in the Eastern Conference Finals. The first meeting this season was in Toronto where the Raptors won 131-128 in overtime behind Kawhi Leonard’s 37 points. Durant had 51 in that November contest, while Curry and Draymond Green were out injured. In Oakland on December 13th, the Raptors won 113-93 without Leonard, as Kyle Lowry led the way with 23 points and 12 assists. Durant, Curry and Green played in that game.
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Cousins suffered his injury during the first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers but the team has not really given any indication on his availability yet. In the meantime, the nine day layoff will serve veteran Andre Iguodala well as the Warriors will need his defensive help on Leonard. Curry has scored 30 or more points in five straight playoff games and six of the past seven, while shooting guard Klay Thompson has just one 30-point outing in 16 playoff games. Green has also helped out on both ends of the floor with Durant’s abscence, recording back-to-back triple-doubles to wrap up the Western Conference finals against Portland and has four this postseason.
Leonard is leading the way with 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the postseason and at times, is carrying the load himself. Rumors are still flying that this will be his only season in Toronto as he’s set to become a free agent in July. Lowry is finally starting to find his shooting touch again after struggling in the first and second round. He busted out for 30 in Game 1 versus Milwaukee and made 20-of-43 shots from 3-point land including 3-of-4 in the clinching Game 6.
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It seems like everyone is on the Warriors in this series and in Game 1. In fact, as of Wednesday night, 79% of the public is on Golden State. This really makes me want to take the Raptors in this one, but I’m going to grab the over instead. The Warriors defense is not as good as what the Raptors have faced in the first three rounds and we already know Golden State can score at will. Six of the last eight meetings between the two have gone over.
Pick: OVER 213.5
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Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Warriors are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Warriors are 5-15 ATS in their last 20 Thursday games.
Warriors are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 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 home games.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Raptors are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Raptors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
Raptors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 34-16-2 ATS in their last 52 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Raptors are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 3-0-1 in Warriors last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Warriors last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1-1 in Warriors last 6 road games.
Over is 4-1-1 in Warriors last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Warriors last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 6-2 in Warriors last 8 NBA Championship games.
Over is 6-2 in Warriors last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 25-10 in Warriors last 35 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 12-5-1 in Warriors last 18 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 7-1 in Raptors last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 6-1 in Raptors last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 3-1-2 in Raptors last 6 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-4 in Raptors last 14 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 10-4-1 in Raptors last 15 games following a straight up win.
Under is 13-6 in Raptors last 19 overall.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Toronto.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Warriors are 2-5-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
