Once again, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors will lock horns in the NBA Finals just as they did in each of the previous three years. The 2018 NBA Finals begins this Friday in Oakland. Which team will get win No. 1 in the series? Read on for a preview of this highly anticipated (but completely expected) matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors NBA Finals Game 1 on May 31, 2018
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
When: Thursday, May 31, 9:00PM EST
Line: Cleveland Cavaliers (point spread) at Golden State Warriors (point spread); total: – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Betting on the Cleveland Cavaliers (+12)
Despite a weaker supporting cast than what he had in the previous seasons, LeBron James was still able to will his team to the NBA Finals through his sheer greatness. James posted 35 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists to go with two blocks in 48 minutes of the Cavs’ 87-79 win over Boston in Game 7 of the East Finals on Sunday. For the Cavs to win games against the Warriors, James will have to twirl out no less than a monster performance each game, especially with Kevin Love’s availability in jeopardy once again. Love suffered a concussion in Game 6 of the Boston series that forced him to sit out Sunday’s Game 7. Should Love get eventually ruled out again for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Jeff Green will likely get the nod to start again in his place. Green was fantastic as LeBron’s main sidekick on Sunday, scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
The Cavs are 5-5 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors (-12)
The Warriors came back from a 3-2 series deficit in the West Finals against the Houston Rockets and completed their job on Monday with a 101-92 win over James Harden and company. The Warriors relied on Kevin Durant Stephen Curry for most of their points, as the two churned out 34 and 27 markers, respectively. Durant is averaging 29.0 points in the playoffs while Curry is chipping in 24.8 points. After scoring under 100 points in Games 4 and 5 of that series, the Warriors and their offense woke up in Games 6 and 7 in which they averaged 108.0 points on 49.1 field goal shooting percentage. The Cavs does not have the defensive makeup of Houston, so the Warriors could expect having a field day on offense right in the very first game of the NBA Finals.
The Warriors are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Cleveland.
Writer’s Prediction:
Warriors win, 118-98.
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