Warriors vs Cavaliers Game 3 Prediction: Can the Cavaliers make this a series?

2017 NBA Finals — Cleveland Cavalier vs Golden State Warriors Game 3

Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers | Wednesday, June 7th, 9:00 pm EST

NBA Finals Spread Prediction and Odds | NBA Finals Odds: Cavaliers +4, 226.5

NBA Finals Game 3 Prediction by Mike Davis of Oddsboard.com

Golden State Warriors

(81–15)

The Warriors have played exactly as planned in Games 1 and 2, beating the Cavaliers with ease and protecting their home court. As the series shifts to Cleveland, the Warriors have one goal in mind: to not repeat their epic Finals collapse like the 2016 Finals.

Golden State was favored by -7.5 and -9 points in Games 1 and 2, managing to cover with ease in both games. As the series shifts to Cleveland, oddsmakers have the Warriors favored by -3 points on the road.

Warriors Betting Trends

Warriors are 11–0 ATS in their last 11 road games

Warriors are 22–6–1 ATS in their last 29 games overall

Warriors are 5–0 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference

Kevin Durant has been arguably the most unstoppable player through two games in this series — he has 71 points so far and he appears more than ready to win his first championship. In Game 2, Stephan Curry nabbed his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Durant recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in another all world performance.

Another bad sign for the Cavaliers is that Klay Thompson seems to have found his stroke. Thompson dropped 22 points in Game 2 shooting 8-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Cleveland Cavaliers

(63–34)

Last year, the Warriors won the first two games in the NBA Finals by 48 combined points. In this 2017 NBA Finals, the Warriors have beat the Cavaliers by a combined 41 points in Games 1 and 2. Last year, the Cavaliers went on to win the NBA Finals in 7 games. This year, the Cavaliers are hoping to repeat as NBA Champions.

If the Cavaliers want to repeat as NBA Champions, they will need to find a way to help out LeBron James on the defensive side of the court. Last season, James had help off the bench but the Cavs don’t have the depth they had last season.

Cavaliers Betting Trends

Cavaliers are 0–6–1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference

Cavaliers are 8–3–1 ATS in their last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game

Cavaliers are 1–4 ATS in their last 5 games overall

Much of the criticism in this series has been hurled against Cavs’ starting point guard Kyrie Irving. He has struggled mightily on the offensive end in the first two games of this series, scoring just 43 points on 18-of-45 shooting from the field. His defense hasn’t been up to par as well, with Stephen Curry averaging 30 points in the 2017 Finals thus far, including notching a triple-double in Game 2.

Warriors vs Cavaliers Spread Pick

In the 2016 NBA Finals, the Cavaliers managed a historic comeback to take the series in 7 games. The biggest difference this season is Kevin Durant. The Warriors had a great offense before the addition of Durant and so far Durant has averaged 35 PPG in the 2017 Finals. There is no one of the court more motivated to win an NBA Championship than Kevin Durant. The bottom line is the Warriors have too many offensive weapons and the Cavaliers aren’t playing great defense and LeBron James can only do so much on both ends of the court.

If the Cavaliers were going to win a game it would be Game 3. I just don’t see it happening. The Warriors last played in Cleveland in January and they beat the Cavaliers on their home court by 35 points. While I don’t see another route in Game 3, I think the books are giving us a gift with Golden State giving -3 p0ints. I’m taking the Warriors on the road in a series that is heading towards an NBA Finals sweep.

NBA Finals Game 3 Prediction: Warriors -4