Time For Warriors To Panic If They Lose Game 3 At Cavaliers

Perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers don't need All-Star Kyrie Irving to beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Just about everyone wrote off the Cavs after Irving suffered a season-ending fractured kneecap in the Game 1 overtime loss, but his replacement, Aussie Matthew Dellavedova, was a big reason why the Cavs upset the Warriors in Game 2, 95-93 in overtime. It was only Golden State's fourth loss at home all season. Now the series shifts to Ohio with Golden State a 1-point favorite for Tuesday at BetOnline. The total is 194.

Need To Know

Dellavedova played airtight defense on NBA MVP Stephen Curry and scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a free throw with 10.1 seconds left that put Cleveland ahead for good. Curry missed an NBA Finals-record 13 3-point field goals in Game 2, in large part thanks to Dellavedova's defense. Curry was 0-for-8 when guarded by Dellavedova on Sunday, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range, his worst shooting performance against a defender in any game this postseason. Curry's 21.7 percent shooting (5-for-23) was the third worst an MVP has registered in any Finals game by percentage, minimum 15 attempts. The only player to fare worse was Bob Cousy against the St. Louis Hawks in 1957. He shot 2-of-20 (10 percent) and 4-of-21 (21 percent).

Overall, Dellavedova held the Warriors to 3-for-15 shooting, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and forced six turnovers as a primary defender in Game 2. That's the most turnovers forced by a Cavaliers player in a game this postseason, and only Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Khris Middleton have forced more turnovers as the primary defender in any game this postseason.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, the Warriors shot 1-for-6 from the field and turned the ball over three times with Dellavedova as the primary defender; the Warriors shot 8-for-18 and turned it over once when guarded by anyone else in the half court over that same span.

The Cavaliers win was their first in NBA Finals win in Franchise history. They were 0-5 prior to Sunday night. LeBron James was typically great. He finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, despite shooting 11-of-34 from the field. James wasn’t the only one who had trouble shooting for the Cavaliers, who shot 32.3 percent from the field. That’s the lowest by any team in an NBA Finals road win in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55).

LeBron joined James Worthy (1988 Lakers) as the only players in NBA Finals history to have a 35-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist game. Worthy did so in a Game 7 win over the Pistons. James had his fifth career triple-double in the Finals, second-most all-time, trailing Magic Johnson, who had eight. It was James' seventh postseason game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Only Oscar Robertson (eight) has had more.

The Cavaliers own the best home record in the NBA since Jan. 19 at 26-2 (.929), including a perfect 8-0 mark against the West. Over that 28-game stretch at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland has outscored its foes by 12.1 points (106.0-93.9) and outshot them .465 to .415. The Cavs have denied opponents from scoring at least 100 points in 23 of the last 28 home games, while also shooting nearly .400 from the three-point line (325-814, .399).

Key Betting Trends

Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.

Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.

Warriors are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.

Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

Cavaliers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.

Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Tuesday games.

Under is 6-0 in Warriors last 6 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. Western Conference.

Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : 2015 nba finals , cleveland cavaliers , Golden State Warriors , matthew dellavedova , nba basketball odds , steph curry

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