Game of the Day: Wednesday's NBA Playoff matchups by covers
Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers (-6, 194)
Bulls lead series 1-0
The Chicago Bulls pilfered homecourt advantage away from second-seeded Cleveland and look to take a 2-0 series lead when they visit the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Chicago posted a 99-92 victory in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals by outplaying shorthanded Cleveland, which was missing injured forward Kevin Love (shoulder) and suspended guard J.R. Smith.
Smith will also sit out Game 2 while Love is gone for the postseason and the adjustments made by Cavaliers coach David Blatt didn’t work as third-seeded Chicago controlled the opener. “We were just a little bit off in a lot of things, a lot of little things that were important,” Blatt told reporters. “We’ve got to turn it around and make up for that a little bit because that’s the way for us to beat this team.” The Bulls didn’t show any fear of Cleveland while delivering an impressive opening salvo. “We must have confidence going into a series against anyone, no matter who the opponent is,” Chicago power forward Pau Gasol told reporters. “I think we came in with the right mindset and attitude, not really easing into the series but really going after it.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Cavs as 6-point faves and the total at 194.
INJURY REPORT: Bulls - G Derrick Rose (Probable, shoulder). Cavs - G J.R. Smith (Out, suspended), F Kevin Love (Out for season, shoulder).
ABOUT THE BULLS: Shooting guard Jimmy Butler had 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in the opener and also fared well while guarding James. “I feel like we’re both two NBA players,” Butler told reporters. “His name might be more well-known than mine but I’m just here to compete. I’m here to play. Everybody knows that LeBron is a hell of a player, I’m not knocking that, but I think I’m a decent player. I think I can hang with the best of them.” Point guard Derrick Rose also excelled with 25 points in the opener.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: James had 19 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and three steals in the opener but his 9-of-22 shooting and subpar defensive effort stood out more than the numbers. “I have to be better, I wasn’t that good,” James said. “I have to be much better.” Point guard Kyrie Irving was solid with 30 points – matching his career playoff high – and shooting guard Iman Shumpert surprised by posting a career playoff-best 22 points and making four 3-pointers.
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Cleveland.
* Bulls are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Cleveland.
* Under is 4-0 in Bulls last four overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last four overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 60 percent of bettors are backing the Bulls.
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (-7, 213)
Clippers lead series 1-0
The Los Angeles Clippers won the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals without Chris Paul and may again be without the standout point guard when they visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Paul suffered a hamstring injury in Game 7 of the first-round series against San Antonio and his status for Game 2 will be decided in the hours leading up to game time.
Austin Rivers started in place of Paul and had 17 points in 28 minutes as Los Angeles registered a 117-101 win in the opener. Rockets star James Harden finished second in the MVP voting to Golden State’s Stephen Curry but his quiet 20-point performance was made worse by nine turnovers. Houston allowed 71 second-half points and committed 24 miscues and coach Kevin McHale was highly disturbed with the latter. “These are professional athletes and some of the turnovers we have were seventh and eighth grade,” McHale told reporters. “We just jumped in the air and with no one to throw it to, so we threw it in the air. We got to be better, that’s the bottom line.”
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Rockets as 6.5-point favorites and the total at 213.
INJURY REPORT: Clippers - G Chris Paul (Questionable, hamstring).
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS: Power forward Blake Griffin is playing spectacular and had 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the opener for his third triple-double of the postseason. “We’ve always had a lot of trust in Blake,” backup guard Jamal Crawford told reporters. “If we could draw anything from C.P. going down, it was that Blake had grown as a playmaker and a guy that we could obviously play through. He knows when to score, he knows when to set his teammates up and that’s why he’s one of the best players in the league.”
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Harden had 12 assists but his off-night as a scorer to go along with the ball-handling miscues sabotaged Houston’s chances of winning the opener. “I’m the catalyst, especially on the offensive end, and I’ve got to do a better job,” Harden told reporters. “Nine turnovers against this team is not to going to cut it. I think they had maybe (34) points off our turnovers – that’s giving them easy points.” Center Dwight Howard, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots, said the Rockets didn’t have their usual level of energy.
TRENDS:
* Clippers are 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Rockets are 24-6 ATS in their last 30 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 4-1 in Clippers last five vs. Western Conference.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 61 percent of bettors are backing the Clippers.
