No one is giving the Portland Trail Blazers much of a chance to beat the record-setting Golden State Warriors in their Western Conference semifinal series. Really, if the Blazers have a prayer they probably have to win Game 2 on Tuesday night in Oakland because it’s looking like Warriors superstar Steph Curry will return from his knee injury for Game 3. The Warriors are -3000 on NBA betting odds to win the series and Blazers at +1500.
A Look at the Expert NBA Playoff Betting Pick on Portland at Golden State & TV Info
When: Tuesday, May 3, 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Warriors -10 (213.5)
Blazers at Warriors Historic Betting Trends
Golden State won Game 1 118-106 and it wasn’t even really that close. With Curry out again, Klay Thompson stepped up with 37 points. Thompson hit seven more 3-pointers to become the first player in NBA history to make at least seven 3s in three straight playoff games. Draymond Green added his second career postseason triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for the defending champions. Shaun Livingston added 12 points and six assists after scoring 16 in each of his first-round starts in place of Curry. Golden State outscored Portland by 20 points in the first quarter (37-17), while Thompson had more points in the first quarter (18) than the entire Portland team (17).
In the past three games, the Warriors have outscored their opponents by 72 points with Curry off the floor. They’re shooting 52 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range. Thompson is averaging 27.0 points in seven games without Curry this season. In the past three games, Thompson is 21-of-36 on 3-pointers. In that same span, Warriors opponents are 21-of-90.
Portland got 30 points from Damian Lillard but it took him 26 shots. Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined to shoot 13 for 43 and the Blazers were 10 of 31 from 3-point range. The Blazers began the game 1 of 9 and missed their initial five 3-point attempts.
Mason Plumlee hauled in 13 rebounds in Game 1 at Golden State, making him the first Trail Blazer to record 10+ rebounds in six consecutive playoff games since Bill Walton in the 1977 NBA Finals (vs. Philadelphia). Plumlee, who ranks first with six games of 10+ rebounds this postseason, is also ranked third in rebounds per game (13.0). Allen Crabbe scored a playoff career-high 15 points (6-9 FG) in Game 1 and has now scored at least 10 points in four consecutive games. The Trail Blazers outscored Golden State by eight points in the fourth quarter of Game 1, and have now outscored their opponent in the fourth quarter in each of their past five postseason games (4-1).
As for Curry, he thinks he will be able to play in Game 3 in Portland this weekend. He sprained the MCL in his knee during a Game 4 first-round victory at Houston on April 24 when he slipped on a wet spot just before halftime. In the first seven quarters without him since the knee injury, the Warriors outscored their opponents by 80 points. Curry has resumed light shooting without movement on his injured right knee, with the hope that he can get into scrimmages by the end of the week. The Warriors are scheduled to take Wednesday off from practice, which means Curry could get into running on the court by Thursday or Friday.
Expert Betting Prediction
Portland is now 5-20 on Golden State’s home floor since the beginning of the 2003-04 season. Warriors take this game and win in a sweep.
