Steve Starr
- Bovada has updated NBA Championship odds before Game 3 of the NBA Finals
- The Warriors (-290) are heavy favorites after winning Game 2 despite the loss of Klay Thompson
- The Raptors (+245) are underdogs as the series shifts to Golden State
Sitting with a five-point lead at the half of Game 2, it was beginning to look like the Raptors might be too deep for a Warriors team without Kevin Durant. Then the second half started. Unable to score almost six minutes into the third quarter, Toronto fell apart as Golden State went on an 18-0 run.
Despite Steph Curry not feeling well and both Kevon Looney and Klay Thompson leaving the game with injuries, Canada’s team blew a golden opportunity on home court and now head to Oracle Arena on Wednesday with the series tied at one
Let’s check the odds at Bovada to see who bookmakers believe have the edge in the NBA Finals.
2019 NBA Championship Odds
| NBA Team | Odds |
| Golden State Warriors | -270 |
| Toronto Raptors | +220 |
*Odds taken 06/03/19
Golden State Warriors
Considering the team just downplayed KD’s injury, it’s hard to know if Thompson will play in Game 3 after landing awkwardly and leaving Sunday’s contest with a hamstring injury.
“Klay said he’ll be fine, but Klay can be half-dead and he’d say he’s [fine]. We’ll see,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr after the 109-104 win. “He pulled his hamstring; he thinks it’s minor — I don’t know what that means going forward.”
“See you in the Bay, Aubrey. You weren’t talking tonight. Bum ass.” – Klay Thompson ?
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 3, 2019
With Durant’s status equally murky, it’s hard to be 100% confident that Golden State will find a way to win their fourth championship in five years, but the team has to be encouraged by the performance of guard Quinn Cook (three big three-pointers) and big man DeMarcus Cousins (11 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks), who hadn’t played in 45 days when the series started on Thursday.
Not to mention the always-clutch Andre Iguodala, who ended a five-minute-plus Warriors scoring drought with a game-sealing three with only seconds to go.
While health is obviously still a concern for Golden State, their Game 2 win makes it all the more likely that their two-time NBA Finals MVP will make it back in time to save the day.
Andre Iguodala Game 2 dagger ?
Series tied at 1-1 pic.twitter.com/b3sfvOPA1A
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2019
Toronto Raptors
Kahwi Leonard once again dominated with 34 points and 14 rebounds, but otherwise didn’t leave Drake with much to cheer about in Game 2. Kyle Lowry’s early foul trouble held him to 13 points and two assists, while both Pascal Siakim (12 points on 5/18 shooting) and Marc Gasol (6 points, 6 rebounds) couldn’t duplicate their heroic Game 1 efforts.
While Sunday’s loss had to be dispiriting to the thousands of fans in Jurassic Park and the record-breaking number of Canadians tuning in at home, there’s still hope the Larry O’Brien Trophy could be headed up north.
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Kawhi LeonardThe only players in the last 10 seasons to score 30 points in at least 12 playoff games ? pic.twitter.com/YiDuoJT6J9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 3, 2019
After all, Kahwi just put his name on a shortlist of stars who’ve notched a dozen 30-point games in a single playoff run: Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Jerry West.
With a few more big games from Leonard and some slower-than-expected returns from Klay and KD, Toronto could pull the upset, but at this point I’m sticking to my pre-series prediction.
Pick: Warriors in 6
