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Game of the day: Warriors at Cavaliers

Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (+2.5, 193)

Cavaliers lead series 2-1

The Cleveland Cavaliers are controlling the pace and flow of the NBA Finals and look to take another step toward winning the best-of-seven series when they host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Cleveland again frustrated the speedy Warriors while posting a 96-91 in Game 3 on Tuesday and can take a dominating 3-1 series lead with another strong effort in Game 4.

The Cavaliers have slowed the games to a tempo that has knocked high-scoring Golden State out of sync while LeBron James has been dynamic by averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds and 8.3 assists over the first three games. "Every time the media or anyone thinks that he can't accomplish something or do something remarkable, he always answers the call," forward Tristan Thompson told reporters. "He's playing great basketball for us, and we're just getting on his shoulders and just riding him the through the game." League MVP Stephen Curry is averaging 24 points in the series for the Warriors but was nonexistent for most of the first 30 minutes in Game 3 before a strong final quarter in which he made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points. "Whether I'm making shots or not, I've got to stay -- I'll use the word vibrant -- just kind of having fun out there," Curry said at a press conference. "Because the team definitely feeds off of my energy and the joy for the game."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC

LINE HISTORY: The opening total (192.5) has jumped half-a-point. The spread opened at CLE +2.5 and has remained there.

INJURY REPORT: Warriors - F Draymond Green (Prob-Back) Cavaliers - G Matthew Dellavedova (Prob-Fatigue), G Iman Shumpert (Prob-Shoulder)

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We know the betting community expects Golden State to bounce back and even up the series so we wanted to make it a favorite right off the bat, opposed to Game 3 when we opened a pick ‘em and let them decide. The Warriors have slept-walked through the first three quarters in all three games thus far but if they play like they are capable, and what we’ve seen in the fourth quarter, they will blow Cleveland out. Are they getting out-coached, or is it a lack of focus, experience, or both?" - John Lester, Senior Lines Manager at Bookmaker.eu

ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State looks nothing like the squad that recorded 67 regular-season victories and forward Draymond Green criticized his team's effort and competitiveness on Wednesday's off-day. "They're playing like a team that's desperate and needs something," Green told reporters of the Cavaliers. "We're playing like a team that's not desperate and got something. ... This isn't the time to be quiet. Everybody should speak up. You be quiet now, you'll be home in a couple of days." Perhaps the biggest positive the Warriors could point to in Game 3 was the play of reserve forward David Lee, who came off the bench to score 11 points in 13 minutes in his first action of the series.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: Cleveland is already without point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) and power forward Kevin Love (shoulder) and sidestepped more misfortune when guards Iman Shumpert (shoulder) and Matthew Dellavedova (severe dehydration) had issues in Game 3. Shumpert collided with the screening Green and injured his left shoulder and an MRI exam performed Wednesday displayed the injury was only a bruise, while Dellavedova cramped up so badly after Tuesday's 20-point performance that he was taken to a hospital via ambulance and spent the night receiving IV treatments. "I felt like I pushed the limit a few times," Dellavedova told reporters Wednesday after returning to the team. "That's the most tired I've been. I'm feeling good now, though."

TRENDS:

*Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
*Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
*Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
*Under is 12-3 in Warriors last 15 overall.

COVERS CONSENSUS: 51.32 percent of the public is behind the Warriors -2.5 with 71.4 percent on the over.

Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals sees historic adjustment in Over/Under betting
By JASON LOGAN

The 2015 NBA Finals has undergone the biggest adjustment in betting totals from Game 1 to Game 4 in any championship series over the last 24 years, with a 10.5-point difference between the opening game total and fourth installment of the series.

Going back to the 1991 NBA Finals (as far back as Covers’ NBA betting database allows), the most a total has jumped between Game 1 and Game 4 is 6.5 points. That adjustment occurred in the 1991 championship between Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers (Game 1: 201.5, Game 4: 195), and the 1998 finals featuring Chicago and the Utah Jazz (Game 1: 186, Game 4: 179.5).

Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals closed with a lofty total of 203.5 points, only playing Over due to an added overtime period that saw Golden State edge Cleveland 108-100 last Thursday. Game 2 closed with an Over/Under of 199 points, with the Cavaliers stealing a 95-93 OT win in Oracle Arena and playing Under despite the extra frame. That led to a 194.5-point closing total for Tuesday’s Game 3 in Cleveland, in which the home side won 96-91 for another easy Under winner.

That takes NBA bettors to the opening total for Thursday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which sits at 193 points – a more than 10-point difference from the series opening number. With such a gap between the Over/Under for Game 1 and Game 4, were oddsmakers completely wrong when it came to this series?

Well, no. While scoring has been at a premium in this series, and all three games fell Under the total in regulation by a combined 40 points, sportsbooks make their adjustments based on two factors: 1. Game outcomes. 2. Betting patterns. And as far as the basketball betting public is concerned, every game should be going Over.

“We’d get Over money tomorrow if we set the total at 232,” Jimmy Vaccaro, veteran linesmaker for South Point Las Vegas, tells Covers.

According to books in Nevada and online, the Over has been the popular pick with the recreational bettors while the sharps have swooped in and taken the Under. That’s just fine by bookmakers, who have not only been big winners with those Under results the past two games but also with plenty of Over plays parlayed to the Warriors.

“You just make adjustments, that’s all,” John Avello, director of race and sports at the Wynn Las Vegas, tells Covers. “Golden State isn’t shooting the ball well. So just like their coach has to make adjustments, the books have to make adjustments.”

The NBA Finals have been a breeding ground for Under paydays in recent seasons. Since the 2006 NBA Finals, championship games have gone 19-29-3 Over/Under (60.4 percent Under) and Game 4 situations have produced a 2-7 O/U mark in that span – the most profitable situation for Under bettors in the best-of-seven format for the finals.

That’s not to say the totals won’t climb back towards 200-plus points for the remaining games of the series, especially with a Game 5 in Golden State on the schedule. Cleveland’s defense is getting the bulk of the praise for this downtick in offensive production but the Cavs’ clock-sucking offense and just plain poor shooting from the Warriors – specifically Stephen Curry – is having a big impact on how the totals trickle down.

“I think the Cavs are making it difficult but the Warriors are just missing wide-open shots,” says Avello, pointing to Golden State's 41.4 percent shooting in the finals. “They’re just missing. (Matthew) Dellavedova is OK, but they’re (the media) making him out to be the next great defensive stopper. But it’s more about Curry missing open shots, going 2 for 15. You have no chance to go Over the total when he’s shooting that way.”

Looking back over the past nine NBA Finals, Game 4 has seen an average closing total of 189.72 points against an average total of 185 points scored. However, Game 5 totals jump to an average of 191.31 with 202 points scored, producing a 5-3 O/U record.

Game 3 winners

Game 3 is a pivotal matchup for any playoff series, with one team taking a 2-1 edge or putting a 3-0 chokehold on their opponent. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Game 3 winners - when the series is tied 1-1 - have gone on to win the NBA title in 31 of the past 37 situations. One of those six exceptions was LeBron James and the 2013 Miami Heat, who dropped Game 3 to San Antonio but rallied to win the series.

Looking back to the 1991 NBA Finals, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to a collective 13-11 SU and 13-10-1 ATS record in Game 4 of the series. As for LeBron, he’s 2-3 SU, ATS, and O/U in Game 4 of the NBA Finals for his career, averaging 24 points, 6.4 assists, and nine rebounds in those contests.

Finals home dogs

Cleveland was just the 18th finals home underdog since the 1991 NBA Finals, covering the spread as a 2-point pup in Game 3 Tuesday. In that span, home dogs have finished 6-12 SU, 8-10 ATS, and 11-9 Over/Under.

It was also just the fourth time all season the Cavaliers were getting the points at home, and the first time they’ve won and covered in that rare role. Cleveland is once against the underdog in Game 4, set at +3 Thursday.

LeBron MVP no matter what

Not since Jerry West in the 1969 NBA Finals has the Finals MVP award gone to a player on the losing team. In fact, that’s the only time it’s happened.

LeBron James is making a case for the now-labelled Bill Russell Award, averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds and more than eight assists in the 2015 finals, and entered the series priced at +180 to win Finals MVP. Despite pushing the Cavs to a 2-1 series lead, oddsmakers still have Golden State as a -115 favorite to win the NBA championship, with Cleveland coming back at -105.

Win or lose, James should get major MVP consideration, and has already won over one Las Vegas bookmaker (even though you can’t wager on MVP odds in Nevada - yet).

“If you take LeBron off the court and you take that group of guys they have right now (no Kevin Love, no Kyrie Irving), they wouldn’t win five games all year,” says Avello.

The Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas has set James’ Game 4 scoring total at 35.5 points (-110 either side). Curry has a conservative scoring total prop of 28.5 points (-110 either way).

Niese's struggles have Mets losing, Overs cashing

New York Mets' P Jon Niese is struggling as of late, which has led the team to drop their last five games with the leftie starting.

Niese has worked 26 innings in his past five starts while allowing 23 runs and five home runs. It should not come as a shock then that the over/under records during those games are 4-0-1.

The Mets host the San Francisco Giants Thursday.

Red Sox struggling to score runs against Tillman


The Boston Red Sox have seen their fair share of Chris Tillman, but the Bo-Sox have only picked up one win in their past seven against the Baltimore Orioles pitcher.

Over 38.1 innings pitched, Tillman has only allowed 13 runs (1.9 per game) while tossing 33 strikes (4.7 per game).

However, Tillman has struggled at Camden Yards this season with an 0-4 record with a 7.50 ERA.

Braves going over with this pitcher on the mound

The Atlanta Braves are expected to send Julio Teheran to the mound Thursday, with the team carrying a 10-2 over/under record with the Colombian starting this season.

Teheran has not been the ace the Braves were hoping for this season with the young right-hander averaging 5.2 innings per outing while holding 4.87 ERA.

Dellavedova, Shumpert expected to play in Game 4

Both Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova have injury concerns heading into Game 4 Thursday, but both are expected to suit up for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I'm all right, this isn't the regular season," Shumpert said after getting an MRI on his shoulder. "It would take a lot for me not to play, there would have to be structural damage."

Dellavedova, who was dealing with dehydration after Game 3, will have his minutes monitored Thursday according to coach David Blatt.

The Cavs are currently +2.5 when they host the Warriors.

MLB roundup: Reds lose Cozart, sweep Phillies
CINCINNATI -- Rookie Jon Moscot earned his first major league victory and Ivan De Jesus hit a three-run homer, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday.
Cincinnati's already thin roster got thinner when shortstop Zack Cozart left after injuring his knee trying to beat out a grounder in the first inning. Cozart fell to the ground, rolled on his back and grabbed the knee, grimacing in pain. He was helped off the field by the training staff.
The 23-year-old Moscot (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings and Brayan Pena tied a career high with four hits for the Reds, who swept the Phillies for the first time since 2013. Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman notched his 12th save.
Cameron Rupp went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for Philadelphia, which was swept for the third time in five series and fourth time this season.

Blue Jays 7, Marlins 2
TORONTO -- Right-hander Scott Copeland pitched seven strong innings in his first major league start as Toronto stretched its season-best winning streak to eight games.
Justin Smoak, Russell Martin, Jose Reyes and Josh Donaldson homered for the Blue Jays, who swept the three-game series to finish their home stand at 6-0.
Copeland (1-0), who made two relief appearances in his previous stint with Toronto, held the Marlins to six hits, no walks and one run while striking out four.

Nationals 5, Yankees 4 (11 innings)
NEW YORK -- Center fielder Denard Span knocked in the go-ahead run with an infield single with two outs in the top 11th inning as Washington rallied for the win.
The Nationals blew a two-run lead by allowing four runs in the seventh, but a two-run home run by left fielder Michael Taylor off rookie left-hander Jacob Lindgren forged a 4-4 tie with two outs in the eighth.
Three innings after Taylor's fifth home run, the Nationals regained the lead against left-hander Chris Capuano (0-4)
First baseman Tyler Moore opened the inning with a single and got to third on a sacrifice and a groundout. He scored when Span slapped a ball up the middle to second baseman Stephen Drew. Drew made the throw on the run from behind the bag, but Span beat it out as Moore scored.

Cardinals 4, Rockies 2
DENVER -- Carlos Martinez pitched six shutout innings and had two hits to help St. Louis avoid a sweep.
The 23-year-old Martinez (7-2) pitched into the seventh inning for the fifth straight game before faltering. He had allowed just one earned run in his previous four starts, and shut out the Rockies in the first six innings Wednesday. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, yielding two runs, eight hits and a walk.
Outfielder Randal Grichuk homered and third baseman Matt Carpenter also had two hits for St. Louis, and outfielder Ben Paulsen homered for the Rockies.

Orioles 5, Red Sox 2
BALTIMORE -- J.J. Hardy drove in two runs, and Adam Jones knocked in a run and made three spectacular plays in center field as Baltimore beat Boston.
Hardy sparked a two-run third inning with a double that produced the game's first run. The shortstop added a sixth-inning sacrifice fly following Travis Snider's run-scoring single.
Boston starter Rick Porcello gave up five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings and took his fourth consecutive loss.

Rays 4, Angels 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Evan Longoria hit the go-ahead home run in the third inning and Tampa Bay got four scoreless innings of one-hit relief, edging the Los Angeles Angels at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay left-hander Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his first save of the season. Los Angeles (29-30) had starter Jered Weaver last into the eighth inning, but he gave up eight hits along the way.
Tampa Bay had exactly one hit from each of the top eight hitters in their batting order until there were two outs in the eighth, when shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera brought in an insurance run with a ground-rule double. The Angels' three through six hitters in the lineup went a combined 0-for-15.

Mariners 9, Indians 3
CLEVELAND -- Kyle Seager had a double, a grand slam, and five RBIs as Seattle snapped a franchise-record streak of 13 consecutive games of scoring three or fewer runs with a rout of Cleveland at Progressive Field.
Taijuan Walker pitched six innings to beat Cleveland for the second time in his last three starts. Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer gave up six runs on four hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Cubs 12, Tigers 3
DETROIT -- Chris Coghlan and Miguel Montero blasted three-run home runs and the Chicago Cubs scored a season high in runs to pound Detroit at Comerica Park.
Coghlan homered in the third while Montero capped a six-run seventh with his blast into the right-field stands. Jake Arrieta recorded his team-high sixth win while allowing three runs in six innings and striking out eight.
Mike Baxter reached base four times and scored a career-high three runs, Anthony Rizzo contributed two hits and two RBIs and Chris Denorfia added two hits and an RBI.

Braves 4, Padres 1
ATLANTA -- Williams Perez scattered four hits and allowed only one unearned run over seven innings, leading Atlanta to a win over San Diego at Turner Field.
Perez finished with five strikeouts. He kept his sinker down in the zone and retired the last eight batters he faced. In five starts since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, the right-hander has allowed one or fewer runs four times. Perez also singled and scored a run.
Atlanta totaled 14 hits, with A.J. Pierzynski and Kelly Johnson collecting three singles apiece.

Pirates 2, Brewers 0
PITTSBURGH -- Charlie Morton carried a no-hitter into the fifth and pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings to lead Pittsburgh past Milwaukee .
Morton wound up allowing three hits while walking three and striking out six. Milwaukee right-hander Kyle Lohse gave up a run in each of the first two innings, but settled down to last into the seventh.
Gregory Polanco stroked a leadoff double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Starling Marte's infield single for a 1-0 lead. Pedro Alvarez doubled the lead in the second with long homer over the right field seats and out of the stadium.

Giants 8, Mets 5
NEW YORK -- Brandon Belt launched a tie-breaking two-run homer during a five-run sixth inning as San Francisco beat the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Joe Panik, who hit a two-run homer in the first, singled leading off the inning. After Angel Pagan walked, Buster Posey laced a two-run double to right. Belt followed four pitches later with his eighth homer of the season.
Right fielder Justin Maxwell hit a solo homer later in the inning for the Giants, who scored in the ninth via another RBI double by Posey. Left fielder Nori Aoki tied a career-high with four hits while Panik had three hits.

Royals 7, Twins 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Kansas City got a bunch of early offense then took advantage of three Minnesota errors in a win at Target Field .
Edinson Volquez pitched seven innings of one-run ball, throwing a season-high 115 pitches -- the most by any Royals pitcher in a game this season. Twins righty Kyle Gibson lost for the first time since May 17, allowing five runs, four of them earned, on five hits and two walks in six innings of work.
Kansas City scored first, posting a four-spot in the first inning.

White Sox 4, Astros 1
CHICAGO -- Vincent Velasquez scattered just three hits in five shutout innings in his major league debut but missed a shot at his first victory as the Chicago White Sox rallied for a victory over Houston .
Jose Quintana earned the victory while allowing just one run on six hits over seven strong innings.
Adam LaRoche greeted reliever Will Harris with a solo home run to right in the sixth to tie the game before the White Sox took the lead in the seventh as Geovany Soto slammed a first-pitch homer to left off Astros reliever Tony Sipp for a 2-1 lead. Jose Abreu added insurance runs in the eighth with his two-run homer.

A's 5, Rangers 4
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland earned its first walk-off win of the season, rallying to beat Texas.
Josh Reddick collected his fifth career walk-off RBI, driving in Sam Fuld from third with a fielder's choice ground ball in the ninth off right-hander Keone Kela.
The Rangers took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but Oakland pulled even with two runs, the first scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Joey Gallo

NBA Finals: Thompson: Warriors to 'find offense, win the series'
CLEVELAND � Klay Thompson offered the Warriors a roadmap out of their two-game losing streak in the 2015 NBA Finals. Golden State trails the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1 entering Game 4 on Thursday.
"If we get our offense back, we're going to win this series," said Thompson.
Find their offense the Warriors did in Game 3, but the surge in the final 25 minutes which all but erased a 20-point deficit was futile. MVP Steph Curry left the court shaking his head. With a minute or two more, the Warriors might have shifted the narrative of a series defined by what Cavaliers forward LeBron James is doing � for himself and his band of role players � to get Cleveland the edge without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.
"He understands the moment. He understands the situation, and he is a big, big, big time player," first-year Cavs coach David Blatt said. "He can get it done."
James scored in the 40s for the third consecutive Finals game and is on a record pace statistically if he holds up physically. With Irving (knee), Love (shoulder) and Anderson Varejao (Achilles) down, this isn't the Finals lineup James or Blatt envisioned. But James is doing more than enough to compensate as Blatt, who played for Pete Carrill at Princeton, has Cleveland playing at a slow-down pace to counter the run-and-gun Warriors.
"This is a resilient group. They just don't give in," Blatt said. "If you can bend and not break, you've always got a chance. You've got a chance."
James said he told teammates in the aftermath of Game 3 that the Warriors are a great team that was not close to mercifully folding to bow to James and the Cavaliers' victory parade.
But there is a lot of work to do for Golden State to make its case on the court.
"You want to show some fight. And I thought in the third quarter we were hanging our heads a little bit, and it was good to see us bring the fight to the game," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "And that's how we have to play the whole way through. It's not just making shots. Obviously, that helps, but it's fighting and it's competing, and we've got to do that for 48 minutes."
Curry and Thompson averaged 45.4 points in the regular season. Thompson had the hot hand in the first two games and Curry, after scoring just three points in the first half Tuesday and shooting 15 of 43 in the first two games combined, broke out of his six-quarter "slump" with a huge second half.
"We're in the NBA Finals," Kerr said. "There's pressure for everybody. I was pleased with the way we responded when we got down, and I'm very confident that we'll play better in Game 4."
Curry was 10 for 20 in the game, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range, and the Warriors scored 36 points in the fourth quarter.
That sparked optimism in a locker room surprised to be starting at a 2-1 deficit in the Finals.
"Whether I'm making shots or not, I've got to stay I'll use the word vibrant just kind of having fun out there," said Curry. "Because the team definitely feeds off of my energy and the joy for the game. So if it's not going our way, or not going my way specifically, I've got to find different ways to get us going. So I like that challenge because this is going to be a hard fought series, and I've got to have a huge part in it.

MLB MONEYLINE

MLB > (913) TEXAS@ (914) OAKLAND | 06/11/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play ON TEXAS using the money line in All games in road games
The record is 20 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (+18.12 units)

MLB > (917) LA ANGELS@ (918) TAMPA BAY | 06/11/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST TAMPA BAY using the money line in All games at home when the total is 7 or less
The record is 19 Wins and 33 Losses for the last two seasons (-24.8 units)

MLB > (905) SAN FRANCISCO@ (906) NY METS | 06/11/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST NY METS using the money line in All games as a home underdog of +100 to +125
The record is 19 Wins and 48 Losses for the last three seasons (-26.6 units)

MLB > (911) SEATTLE@ (912) CLEVELAND | 06/11/2015 - 12:10 PM
Play ON SEATTLE using the money line in Road games in June games
The record is 11 Wins and 3 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.84 units)

MLB TOTALS

MLB > (901) SAN DIEGO@ (902) ATLANTA | 06/11/2015 - 12:10 PM
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in All games in all games
The record is 38 Overs and 21 Unders for the this season (+16.7 units)

MLB > (913) TEXAS@ (914) OAKLAND | 06/11/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games against division opponents
The record is 20 Overs and 8 Unders for the this season (+12.1 units)

MLB TOP POWELINE

MLB > (911) SEATTLE @ (912) CLEVELAND | 06/11/2015 - 12:10 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -110 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND 118
Edge On: CLEVELAND (8)

MLB > (901) SAN DIEGO @ (902) ATLANTA | 06/11/2015 - 12:10 PM
Line: ATLANTA -125 BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA 103
Edge On: ATLANTA (8)

MLB > (913) TEXAS @ (914) OAKLAND | 06/11/2015 - 03:35 PM
Line: OAKLAND -156 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND -127
Edge On: OAKLAND (4)

MLB > (915) BOSTON @ (916) BALTIMORE | 06/11/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE -110 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -141
Edge On: BALTIMORE (31)

MLB > (903) COLORADO @ (904) MIAMI | 06/11/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: MIAMI -133 BTB PowerLine: MIAMI 121
Edge On: MIAMI (33)

MLB > (917) LA ANGELS @ (918) TAMPA BAY | 06/11/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: TAMPA BAY +110 BTB PowerLine: TAMPA BAY -115
Edge On: TAMPA BAY (25)

MLB > (905) SAN FRANCISCO @ (906) NY METS | 06/11/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: NY METS -115 BTB PowerLine: NY METS -128
Edge On: NY METS (13)

MLB > (907) CINCINNATI @ (908) CHICAGO CUBS | 06/11/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -145 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS 104
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (29)

MLB > (909) WASHINGTON @ (910) MILWAUKEE | 06/11/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: MILWAUKEE -105 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE 156
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (41)

NBA FIRST HALF

NBA > (707) GOLDEN STATE@ (708) CLEVELAND | 06/11/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON CLEVELAND in the first half in All games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 21 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+13.3 units)

Thursday's Top Action

June 10, 2015


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (80-20) at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (67-32)

NBA Finals – Game 4
Sportsbook.ag Line: Golden State -2.5, Total: 193.5

The Warriors will look to even the series when they visit the Cavaliers in Cleveland in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals did not disappoint, as the Cavaliers thwarted a valiant comeback attempt from the Warriors and held on for a 96-91 win. SF LeBron James submitted another historic performance with 40 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and two blocks in 46 minutes of action. PG Matthew Dellavedova was heroic with 20 points, and his timely shots helped preserve the Cavs’ lead in the fourth quarter. He also played great defense on PG Stephen Curry, who was held in check for most of the game.

While Curry did finish with 27 points on 7-for-13 shooting from three-point range, the Warriors will need him to provide more offense early if they hope to win Game 4. SG Klay Thompson had a relatively quiet night with 14 points, and SF Harrison Barnes struggled immensely, missing on all eight of his shot attempts. PF David Lee was a sparkplug off the bench with 11 points in just 13 minutes. The Warriors outscored the Cavs by 17 points when Lee was on the floor, and Steve Kerr must be considering giving the two-time NBA All-Star a bigger role in the rest of the series.

Like Games 1 and 2, Game 3 was decided by single digits. Game 3 went Under the total, and the Under has hit in four of the five matchups between Cleveland and Golden State in the regular season and playoffs. The Cavs are now 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS against the Warriors in that same time frame, including 2-0 SU and 2-0 ATS at home. The Warriors are 33-17 ATS when playing against a team with a win percentage between 60 and 70 percent in the second half of the season over the last three seasons. The Cavaliers, however, are 12-4 ATS against teams that shoot over 36 percent from three-point range in the second half of this season.

PG Kyrie Irving (Knee), PF Kevin Love (Shoulder), and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) remain out for the season for the Cavaliers, while PG Matthew Dellavedova (Cramps) and SG Iman Shumpert (Shoulder) are probable for Thursday’s matchup. PF Draymond Green (back) is probable for the Warriors.

The Warriors have not looked like their usual selves on the offensive end through the first three games of the series, and their struggles start with PG Stephen Curry (28.3 PPG, 6.4 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG in playoffs). He did not find any rhythm in Game 3 until late, and 17 of his 27 points came in the fourth quarter. SF Harrison Barnes (10.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG in playoffs) and PF Draymond Green (13.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) had awful offensive games, as the two combined to shoot 2-for-18 from the field.

If their struggles are to continue, SG Andre Iguodala (8.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG in playoffs) will have to step up again as he did in Game 3, when he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He has also played solid defense on LeBron James, and will look to slow down his opponent as much as possible in Game 4 in order for the Warriors to leave Cleveland with a win.

SF LeBron James (29.9 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) continued his torrid pace in Game 3, and his averages in the series now stand at 41.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. This NBA Finals may prove to be a defining factor in his legacy, and it would take a monumental performance from a player on either team to claim Finals MVP honors, even if the Cavaliers lose the series. He has attempted an incredible 107 shots from the field thus far, which has been necessary for his team that is shorthanded on offense and will continue to be for the remainder of the Finals.

James did get help from PG Matthew Dellavedova (7.5 PPG in playoffs), who erupted for 20 points in Game 2, and PF Tristan Thompson (8.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs), who turned in a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

SG J.R. Smith (13.2 PPG in playoffs), who scored a quiet 10 points in Tuesday’s win, will need to make a bigger impact in Game 4 for Cleveland, especially if Dellavedova and SG Iman Shumpert (9.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG in playoffs) aren’t completely healthy.