Western Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs Preview and Prediction, 5–20–2017
Golden State Warriors (77–15) vs San Antonio Spurs (69–27)
NBA: Saturday, May 20th, 9 pm EST
Line: Spurs +6, 212.5 | Featured Matchup by Vincent King
Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals tips off tonight at 9 pm in San Antonio. The Warriors hit the road with a 2–0 series lead and things have gone sour for the San Antonio Spurs. Leading scorer, Kawhi Leonard missed Game 2 with an ankle sprain and it’s unknown whether he will suit up for Game 3. The Spurs are desperate for a win and they feel the home court, where they were 36–11 during the regular season, is exactly the place to get it done.
Golden State came out as expected in Game 2 and took advantage of a banged up Spurs team, pulling off the 136–100 victory and covering the -13.5 point spread as well as going Over 209.5 total. Game 3 is expected to be more of a challenge for the Warriors, considering it’ll be played in San Antonio. However, Golden State is playing like a team with an offense impossible to solve. The Warriors spread the floor and moved the ball so well they finished with 39 assists in Game 3 and they have many weapons if one player goes cold.
The Spurs signed LeMarcus Aldridge in the offseason to help offset the gaping hole that Hall of Famer, Tim Duncan, left after retiring. San Antonio dished out $20 million to sign Aldridge and all he could muster up was 8 points and 4 rebounds in Game 3. If Leonard does, in fact, miss Game 3, the Warriors only have to focus on a few players and if they can shut down one, like Aldridge, the Spurs could be in for another long night.
The Warriors are 9–0 ATS in their last nine road games and 4–1 ATS in their last five Conference Finals games. They are just 9–19 ATS in the last 28 meetings in San Antonio but let’s understand that the majority of those games were played with Tim Duncan in the lineup and when the Spurs were the team to beat.
It’s hard to put much stock into the San Antonio Spurs at this point and with Leonard’s status uncertain, I’m leaning on the Warriors to cover the spread in Game 3 and go up 3–0. It’s becoming very clear that we are looking at a Warriors vs Cavaliers NBA Finals.
