NBA Update — All four series knotted at 1-1
Published on Thursday, 5/10/13, at 7:59 a.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
When Golden St. got done polishing off a 100-91 win last night at San Antonio, the NBA’s version of the Elite Eight was left with four series even at 1-1 as we shift venues for Game 3’s on Friday and Saturday.
Turns out, all the Warriors needed to do was keep Klay Thompson on the court. Thompson fouled out with four minutes remaining in Game 1 when his team had a 16-point lead. The Spurs would rally to win a nail-biter in double overtime.
There would be no such comeback Wednesday night in the Alamo City, where Golden St. won for the first time in 30 games dating back to Valentine’s Day of 1997. Thompson scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Warriors, who won outright as seven-point underdogs and hooked up money-line supporters with a +300 payout (risk $100 to win $300)..
Steph Curry finished with 22 points and is now averaging 33.0 points per game in the series. Carl Landry provided great minutes off the bench, producing 10 points and eight board in just 14 minutes of playing time.
ESPN will have television coverage of Friday’s Game 3 in Oakland at 10:35 p.m. Eastern.
Miami shook off a Game 1 loss to Chicago by blasting the Bulls 115-78 last night as a 12.5-point home ‘chalk.’ Ray Allen scored a game-high 21 points, while LeBron James tallied 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
Most offshores have installed Miami as a seven-point road favorite for Friday’s Game 3 at Chicago.
The Heat remain the favorite at the future book, as it is listed with a -250 price (risk $250 to win $100) to win the NBA title at Sportsbook.ag. The next-shortest odds belong to the Spurs and Grizzlies, both of whom are at 8/1. The Knicks (15/1), Pacers (18/1), Thunder (20/1), Warriors (30/1) and Bulls (50/1) round out the field.
After winning Game 2 at OKC, Memphis has been tabbed as a 4.5-point home favorite for Saturday’s Game 3 at The Grind House. The total is 188.5. The updated series price has the Grizzlies at -170, while OKC is +150.
New York responded to a Game 1 loss to Indiana by cruising to an easy 105-79 victory Tuesday night in Game 2 at MSG in NYC. The Pacers are favored by 3.5 with a total of 184 for Saturday’s Game 3 in Indianapolis.
My NBA picks remain on fire, as I’ve compiled a 24-9 record (73%) since April 25. For the season, I have a 113-78 record (59.2%, +28.24 units). Keep an eye out for my Game 3 picks this weekend.
