Depleted Golden State Warriors Play Second Home Game on Saturday
Published June 8, 2019 by Florin P
The Golden State Warriors try to level the score in what could well be their final home match against the Toronto Raptors.
The Golden State Warriors were expecting to cruise to another trophy, after dominating the NBA in recent years. They have an amazing team, but injuries took their toll and the reigning champions are on the verge of elimination. Toronto Raptors try to secure back-to-back victories in California on Saturday and return home for the decisive match. The game takes place late at night, as it is scheduled at 2 PM UK time, but it is definitely worth watching and betting on it at bet365 Sports and 888 Sport.
The Golden State Warriors Struggle with Injuries
Steph Curry has spent more time in the spotlight than any of his teammates and he almost won game three single-handedly. This amazing basketball player has carried his team throughout the season whenever his teammates failed, but he is now facing the toughest opponent yet. The Golden State Warriors are without Kevin Durant, who still has a lingering calf strain and Klay Thompson is also doubtful. Without these two players, the Warriors were unable to take the lead in the series for the first time and are now trailing the Raptors. Coach Steve Kerr is now scrambling to field a competitive starting formation for Game 4.
888 Sport still credits the hosts with the first chance and odds of only 1/2 to prevail in the second home game. The team did improve after dropping the first match in Toronto and found a way to deal with the threat posed by a disciplined Raptors team. Gasol was largely neutralized and Golden State have maintained the same high scoring percentage. They will rely on Steph Curry even more now that two of their three leading scorers are uncertain for this match.
Toronto have Outscored the Golden State Warriors
The main reason for concern ahead of this match for Steve Kerr and his players is Toronto’s scoring average. The Canadians have outscored the Americans in this series, and the last match was the pinnacle of their offensive performance. While the Golden State Warriors have scored exactly 109 points in each of the three matches, the Raptors were able to score 123. It’s unlikely that they’ll be able to maintain this high scoring ratio in the second match played in California, but the numbers are nonetheless worrisome.
Kyle Lowry is the player to watch for once again in the series, as he has returned to form and has made a significant impact in Game 3. Danny Green is also firing on all cylinders and he has exceeded expectations with three-point shots. The atmosphere at the Oracle Arena is guaranteed to be incendiary, which explains why Toronto are offered such high odds of 2/1 by bet365 Sports. There is definitely value in these odds and given their performance so far, a bet on the Canadian is not that hard to justify.
