The Golden State Warriors have injury questions galore on Wednesday night when they host the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Despite some key guys in question, the Dubs are still solid favorites on the NBA odds to take a 2-1 series lead.
Raptors vs Warriors 2019 NBA Finals Game 3 Odds & Pick
- When: Wednesday, 9 PM ET
- Where: Oracle Arena
- TV: ABC
- Stream: WatchESPN
- Radio: Toronto / Golden State
- 2019 NBA Finals Game 3 Odds: Warriors -5.5 (total 213)
Why Bet on Toronto?
The Raptors have to be kicking themselves for not winning Game 2 with a double-digit lead at one point, the Warriors not having Kevin Durant and then losing both Kevon Looney and Klay Thompson to injury.
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points in a losing effort during Game 2 on Sunday, making 8-of-20 FGs and 16-of-16 FTs with 14 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. The 16 free throws were a season high for Kawhi, and just three shy of his career high, as he bullied his way through contact to keep Toronto close on an otherwise dreary night offensively. Not a single Raptors player shot better than 42.8% from the field — they were 37.2% as a team. Leonard’s 618 total points through 20 playoff games is the third-highest total since 2000-01.
Fred VanVleet played well again during Game 2 on Sunday, scoring 17 points with two 3-pointers, four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 38 minutes. VanVleet closed both halves ahead of Kyle Lowry tonight. The Raptors have used both guards in tandem this postseason, to great effect, but coach Nick Nurse didn’t have that luxury in Game 2 with Lowry mired in foul trouble.
Lowry struggled during Sunday’s Game 2 defeat, fouling out with 13 points (4-of-11 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), two assists, one rebound and one steal in 28 minutes. Lowry’s final foul was a bad one vs. DeMarcus Cousins, and he’s yet to impact this series as a scorer with 10.0 points on 30.0% shooting in Games 1 and 2. Pascal Siakam was held in check vs. Golden State on Sunday, shooting 5-of-18 from the field for 12 points with eight rebounds and five assists in 41 minutes. Siakam had a historically fantastic Finals debut with 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting but came back to earth in Game 2.
The Raptors are currently 4-4 on the road during the 2019 NBA Playoffs and have won at least one road game in each of their three playoff series. Leonard leads the team averaging 31.0 points on the road. Over the last four seasons the Raptors lead the Eastern Conference with a 107-84 (.560) record on the road in the regular-season and playoffs, trailing only Golden State’s 145-57 (.718) record.
OG Anunoby was upgraded to probable prior to Game 2 vs. Golden State but didn’t play. He might Wednesday. Anunoby last played April 9 at Minnesota in Toronto’s regular-season finale. He underwent an emergency appendectomy April 11.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 112.70
- Field Goals: 46.73
- Three Points: 36.19
- Free Throws: 80.76
- Rebounds: 44.69
- Average Score Against: 106.81
- Field Goals: 44.36
- Three Points: 33.94
- Free Throws: 76.87
- Rebounds: 45.14
Why Bet on Golden State?
The Warriors now have a 17-7 record since 2015 following a loss in the postseason (4-1 in this year’s playoffs).
Stephen Curry battled an undisclosed ailment during Game 2 on Sunday, but still racked up 23 points with four assists, three rebounds, three 3-pointers and three steals. half. He didn’t make a field goal until halfway through the second quarter, but still posted 16 points by halftime.
Andre Iguodala sank a victory-sealing 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left on Sunday, posting eight points, eight rebounds and six assists. Iguodala tweaked his left calf late in Game 1, but it was diagnosed as “tightness” and an MRI ruled out any serious damage. He was hurt again in Game 2, leaving in the second quarter after running into a hard screen from Marc Gasol, but he started the second half and was huge at both ends of the court. DeMarcus Cousins looked good in 28 minutes as a starter on Sunday, scoring 11 points with 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one 3-pointer.
Klay Thompson limped off in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Sunday with left hamstring tightness and didn’t return. An MRI revealed a strain and he’s questionable for Game 3. So is Kevin Durant, who hasn’t played since Game 5 of the West semifinals with his calf injury. Big man Kevin Looney is expected to miss the rest of the Finals with an injury suffered in Game 2. With Looney out, Cousins will need to build on his momentum from Game 2, while guys like Jordan Bell and Andrew Bogut could get a bit of action as well.
Golden State played its last home game on May 16 (Game 2 vs. Portland in the Western Conference Finals) and will have a span of 20 days between home games. It is the second-most days in between games, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs (21 days, May 21 – June 11, 2013) since the league adopted the 16-team, 4-round format in 1983.
Golden State has a 34-31 record in Game 3 in any playoff series, and 11-8 since 2015… In the NBA Finals, the Warriors have a 7-3 all-time record in Game 3, including 2-2 since 2015.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For:117.44
- Field Goals: 48.44
- Three Points: 38.27
- Free Throws: 80.68
- Rebounds: 45.78
- Average Score Against: 111.10
- Field Goals: 44.33
- Three Points: 34.99
- Free Throws: 77.76
- Rebounds: 43.74
Raptors vs Warriors NBA Finals Game 3 Betting Trends
- Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Golden State.
- Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
- Raptors are 9-19-1 ATS in the last 29 meetings.
- Raptors are 3-11 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Golden State.
- Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Expert NBA Finals Prediction for Raptors vs Warriors
Raptors 108, Warriors 106
