Cleveland pushed Golden State to the wire in a memorable Game 1 that went to overtime before getting blown out in Game 2. Now, LeBron James and company are home underdogs as they are in desperation mode to get back in the series.
For optimal analysis of this matchup, look no further than SportsLine senior analyst Josh Nagel. The veteran handicapper uses a combination of relevant data, eye tests and betting-market knowledge to form his detailed analysis and selective spread picks.
His expertise has paid off in the NBA playoffs, as he has posted a 15-6 record (71 percent) with his postseason spread selections. He also has been zeroed in on the tendencies of these two clubs, as evidenced by his 17-6 mark against the spread (74 percent) in games involving either Cleveland or Golden State.
Perhaps the key question surrounding Game 3 is whether the Cavaliers can muster the same type of energy and effort they used for an inspired Game 1 effort that memorably came up short amid a flurry of questionable calls and J.R. Smith's infamous mental gaffe on the final play of regulation.
Golden State escaped with a 124-114 overtime win in Game 1 and exploited a still-reeling Cavaliers club for a 122-103 Game 2 blowout.
This is widely perceived as one of the biggest NBA Finals mismatches in recent memory. The star-laden Warriors, led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, are believed to have too many weapons for a Cleveland club that boasts James as its lone equalizer.
That was almost enough in Game 1, as James' historic performance included 51 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. But Curry, Durant and Klay Thompson combined for 79 points as the Warriors shot 57 percent from the field in Game 2. Now the scene shifts back to Quicken Loans Arena, where Cleveland is 8-1 this postseason.
Nagel has analyzed all these factors, isolated a crucial x-factor, and jumped all over one side of this line.
Will the Cavaliers respond on their home court with an inspired performance, or will the Warriors assert control of the series with a dominant showing?... Visit SportsLine now to see which side of Warriors-Cavaliers you should back Wednesday, and what the x-factor will be, from an accomplished handicapper who's hitting 74 percent of his picks involving these teams.The Golden State Warriors, up 2-0 in the best of seven 2018 NBA Finals, meet the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, in Game 3 of the league championship series on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 (6/6/18) at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
NBA Finals 2018: Cavaliers vs Warriors picks, prediction
Here's what you need to know:
Who: Warriors vs. Cavaliers
What: Game 3, NBA Finals
When: Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Time: 9 p.m. Eastern
TV: ABC
Livestream: WatchESPN
Line: Warriors -5.5
Series schedule:
Thursday, May 31: Golden State 124, Cleveland 114, OT
Sunday, June 3: Golden State 122, Cleveland 103
Wednesday, June 6: Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m.
Friday, June 8: Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m.
x-Monday, June 11: Cleveland at Golden State, 9 p.m.
x-Thursday, June 14: Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m.
x-Sunday, June 17: Cleveland at Golden State, 8 p.m.
Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr's Golden State Warriors have repeatedly said they want to build something special for the long haul, to compete for championships year after year.
LeBron James considers his familiar NBA Finals opponent among the best teams ever.
Where the Warriors stack up if they win a third championship in four years will make for a dynasty debate. And their domination doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon, so if they keep winning Golden State will have its place in history.
"As a fan of the NBA, you could go down the list of the teams that won multiple years and just dominated the league for stretches of time," Curry said.
The Warriors are trying to join Bill Russell's Celtics, the Bulls led by Michael Jordan and the Lakers' trio of title runs fueled by George Mikan in the 1950s, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the '80s, and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant nearly 20 years ago as the only franchises in NBA history to capture three championships in four years.
The Warriors are halfway there, holding a 2-0 lead against the underdog Cavs as the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday.
"Listen, Golden State is one of the best teams I've ever played. It's one of the best teams that's ever been assembled," said James, who is playing in his eighth straight NBA Finals and fourth in a row against Golden State.
Curry, sharp-shooting Klay Thompson, fiery Draymond Green and 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala make up an All-Star-studded squad trying to repeat after James thwarted that quest two years ago when the Cavs stopped the defending champs. Kevin Durant bolted from Oklahoma City to join the cast last season.
"You look at it, they've got four Hall of Famers on their team in Klay, Dray, Steph and KD. They've got a Finals MVP that comes off their bench," James said in reference to Iguodala. "... I don't know where they will fall in my book, but they will have a nice chapter."
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