The Golden State Warriors are 8-1 SU and 6-3 ATS over their last nine postseason games. The Warriors will try to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals this Sunday night hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Oracle Arena.
NBA Finals betting: Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 2 odds, stats
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Kyrie Irving as they take on the favored Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Golden State on Sunday.
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Golden State is an 8-point favorite at home in Game 2 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Warriors were favored by six points in the first game of the series.
Even on a night when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson weren’t at their best offensively, Golden State still found a way to win and cover in Game 1.
Part of this could be attributed to Golden State’s underrated defense; while the team’s high-powered offense gets plenty of press, the defense had a solid season allowing 99.9 points per game and has been even better this postseason allowing 96.5 points per game.
The Warriors held Cleveland in check at the end of the game to force overtime, and went on to win 108-100. Golden State is 8-0 SU and ATS in its last eight home games as a favorite of eight points or less according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
On a night that the Cavaliers forced overtime, LeBron James had 44 points and Kyrie Irving looked healthy and had 23 points, Cleveland should have come out of Game 1 feeling confident about the rest of the series.
However, Irving limped off the court after suffering an injury to his knee in overtime, and reports Friday indicated that he would require surgery and be out for the remainder of the postseason.
With Kevin Love and Irving both sidelined, it would seem like too tall of an order for James to bring a title to Cleveland this year. Cleveland is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS over its last six games.
Sunday’s total for the Cavaliers vs. Warriors betting matchup is set at 202 points at the sportsbooks. The UNDER is 10-3 in Golden State’s last 13 games.
Cleveland’s supporting cast has stepped up all postseason long, and will have to do so again in the NBA Finals to keep the Cavaliers’ championship hopes alive.
