Golden State (0-1) at Toronto (1-0)
When: Sunday, June 2nd, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -1.5/215.5
It took the St. Louis Blues over 50 years to get their first Stanley Cup Finals victory – 0-13 before Wednesday – but the Toronto Raptors wasted no time in notching their first NBA Finals win in their first ever appearance. Toronto looks to follow-up their impressive Game 1 performance against the Golden State Warriors when they host Game 2 on Sunday night. Toronto has fallen in Game 2 in each of the last two series – 94-89 to Philadelphia at home and 125-103 at Milwaukee. Golden State is also 2-1 in Game 2s – all at home. After getting stunned at home in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers 135-131, they beat the Houston Rockets 115-109 and then the Portland Trail Blazers 114-111 after being down 17 points. On the injury front, Kevin Durant is expected to sit out yet again with reports saying that the earliest he might return from his calf injury is now Game 4. The Warriors’ best defensive player, Andre Iguodala, appeared to aggravate a leg injury that cost him Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals and that would be a big blow if he can’t go. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson got their points in Game 1, but Toronto stifled the rest of the team with no other player scoring more than 10. Thursday was the Warriors’ first loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals under coach Steve Kerr and snapped the team’s league-record 12 consecutive series-opening playoff winning streak. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam had a Finals debut for the ages, scoring 32 points on 14-for-17 shooting along with eight rebounds and five assists for Toronto in Game 1. He made 11 straight field goals at one point, the longest streak by any player in a Finals game over the past 20 years. Toronto became just the fourth team since the NBA-ABA merger (1977) to win in its NBA Finals debut. The last to do so was Dallas in 2006, but the Mavericks went on to lose that series, blowing a 2-0 lead to the Miami Heat.
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Curry led the way with 34 points in Game 1, Thompson added 21 points and Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, but that was about it. Center DeMarcus Cousins (quad) played for the first time since the first round and managed three points in eight minutes off the bench. If Iguodala is limited, Cousins may need to play more minutes if he can. Fellow center Kevon Looney had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and is hitting 73 percent of his shots in the postseason. Golden State was a perfect 6-0 without Durant, including the game in which he was injured early against Houston, before falling in Game 1.
Siakam was the star of Game 1 for sure, but the entire frontcourt made the Warriors pay. Kawhi Leonard contributed 23 points, while Marc Gasol had a great game with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 6-for-6 from the foul line. Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting in Game 1 and 1-of-5 from long range. The Raptors only turned the ball over 10 times while forcing Golden State into 17 turnovers.
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We took the over in Game 1 and got a pretty easy win despite what appeared to be a sluggish first half. Toronto’s frontcourt could have their way again, while the reliable duo of Curry and Thompson will get their points. The total went up a point, but I’m still confident.
Pick: OVER 214.5
Warriors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 2 days rest.
Warriors are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS loss.
Warriors are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Warriors are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Warriors are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference.
Warriors are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 Sunday games.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Pacific.
Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games.
Raptors are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Raptors are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 35-16-2 ATS in their last 53 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Sunday games.
Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 5-1-1 in Warriors last 7 road games.
Over is 5-1-1 in Warriors last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 5-1-1 in Warriors last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 NBA Championship games.
Over is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-2-1 in Warriors last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Warriors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Warriors last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2-1 in Warriors last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-3 in Warriors last 10 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 6-0 in Raptors last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 7-1 in Raptors last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 vs. NBA Pacific.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Toronto.
Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
Warriors are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Toronto.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
