Game of the Day: Warriors at Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (+4.5, 194.5) / Warriors lead 3-2
The Golden State Warriors look to secure their first world title in 40 years when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in Tuesday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Golden State has won the past two games, including Sunday's 104-91 victory, but Cleveland's LeBron James will be aiming for another stellar effort to force a Game 7 on Friday.
James had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 5 but his second triple-double of the series wasn't enough and now Cleveland's season lies on the brink. "You cope with it by understanding it's just one game and looking at the opportunity we have on Tuesday to force a Game 7," James said in his press conference. "Obviously, for myself, I want to do whatever it takes to help our team win, and I haven't been able to do that the last two games." Warriors guard Stephen Curry had a huge 37-point outing in Game 5 and is ready to close out the series. "We're confident. We're not getting ahead of ourselves," Curry said in his press conference. "In the locker room, if you walked in there was the exact same (feeling) after a regular-season win. But we know the sense of urgency of the moment."
LINE HISTORY: Books initially opened the Cavs as 4.5-point home dogs, but that's since dropped down to +4.
INJURY REPORT: Warriors - S. Curry (probable). Cavaliers - K. Irving (out for season), K. Love (out for season), A. Varejao (out for season).
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The first four games in this series stayed Under the total in regulation time with the only Over happening because of overtime in Game 1. The oddsmakers adjusted the totals lower and lower and then Game 5 landed right on the number at 195. In fact, that line fluctuated between 194.5 to 195.5 throughout the day, so a win, loss, or push were all possible. Anyone who did not win with the Over was frustrated as Andre Iguodala went just 2-for-11 from the free throw line and neither team scored in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game. The game was scoreless at 0-0 until 9:15 remaining in the first quarter and only 2-2 at the 8:08 mark. It will be interesting to see if the teams start slow again in Game 6."
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: The regular-season MVP version of Curry was on display when he scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and was 7-of-13 from 3-point range for the contest. He struggled with his shooting early in the series -- the 5-for-23 effort in Game 2 was particularly distasteful -- and has made 18 3-pointers over the past three games while raising his series average to 26.2 points. "He had a tough first couple of games and he got going at the end of Game 3 in the fourth quarter and that's all it takes," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in his press conference. "Steph makes a couple shots, he feels like he's got it rolling, and he's been great ever since."
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: With Golden State playing a small lineup, Cleveland coach David Blatt opted to match it and turned center Timofey Mozgov into a spectator one game after Mozgov was sensational with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors are happy to play the faster pace and Blatt bristled when reporters repeatedly inferred he played into Golden State's hand by using Mozgov for just nine scoreless minutes. "Did I make a mistake?" Blatt said in his press conference. "Listen, when you're coaching a game, you've got to make decisions. I felt that the best chance for us to stay in the game and to have a chance to win was to play it the way that we played it. It's no disrespect to anyone, certainly not to Timo, who has done a great job for us."
TRENDS:
*Under is 13-3-1 in Warriors last 17 overall.
*Under is 3-0-1 in Cavaliers last 4 overall.
*Warriors are 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
*Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Per Covers Consensus, 61 percent of bets are on the underdog Cavs.
Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (+4.5, 194.5) / Warriors lead 3-2
The Golden State Warriors look to secure their first world title in 40 years when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in Tuesday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Golden State has won the past two games, including Sunday's 104-91 victory, but Cleveland's LeBron James will be aiming for another stellar effort to force a Game 7 on Friday.
James had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 5 but his second triple-double of the series wasn't enough and now Cleveland's season lies on the brink. "You cope with it by understanding it's just one game and looking at the opportunity we have on Tuesday to force a Game 7," James said in his press conference. "Obviously, for myself, I want to do whatever it takes to help our team win, and I haven't been able to do that the last two games." Warriors guard Stephen Curry had a huge 37-point outing in Game 5 and is ready to close out the series. "We're confident. We're not getting ahead of ourselves," Curry said in his press conference. "In the locker room, if you walked in there was the exact same (feeling) after a regular-season win. But we know the sense of urgency of the moment."
LINE HISTORY: Books initially opened the Cavs as 4.5-point home dogs, but that's since dropped down to +4.
INJURY REPORT: Warriors - S. Curry (probable). Cavaliers - K. Irving (out for season), K. Love (out for season), A. Varejao (out for season).
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The first four games in this series stayed Under the total in regulation time with the only Over happening because of overtime in Game 1. The oddsmakers adjusted the totals lower and lower and then Game 5 landed right on the number at 195. In fact, that line fluctuated between 194.5 to 195.5 throughout the day, so a win, loss, or push were all possible. Anyone who did not win with the Over was frustrated as Andre Iguodala went just 2-for-11 from the free throw line and neither team scored in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game. The game was scoreless at 0-0 until 9:15 remaining in the first quarter and only 2-2 at the 8:08 mark. It will be interesting to see if the teams start slow again in Game 6."
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: The regular-season MVP version of Curry was on display when he scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and was 7-of-13 from 3-point range for the contest. He struggled with his shooting early in the series -- the 5-for-23 effort in Game 2 was particularly distasteful -- and has made 18 3-pointers over the past three games while raising his series average to 26.2 points. "He had a tough first couple of games and he got going at the end of Game 3 in the fourth quarter and that's all it takes," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in his press conference. "Steph makes a couple shots, he feels like he's got it rolling, and he's been great ever since."
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: With Golden State playing a small lineup, Cleveland coach David Blatt opted to match it and turned center Timofey Mozgov into a spectator one game after Mozgov was sensational with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors are happy to play the faster pace and Blatt bristled when reporters repeatedly inferred he played into Golden State's hand by using Mozgov for just nine scoreless minutes. "Did I make a mistake?" Blatt said in his press conference. "Listen, when you're coaching a game, you've got to make decisions. I felt that the best chance for us to stay in the game and to have a chance to win was to play it the way that we played it. It's no disrespect to anyone, certainly not to Timo, who has done a great job for us."
TRENDS:
*Under is 13-3-1 in Warriors last 17 overall.
*Under is 3-0-1 in Cavaliers last 4 overall.
*Warriors are 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
*Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Per Covers Consensus, 61 percent of bets are on the underdog Cavs.
