Golden State could cap off a thoroughly impressive undefeated run through the NBA playoffs tonight, in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against a Cleveland team just hoping to force Game 5. Covers checks in on where the action is for this 9 p.m. ET tipoff, with insights from Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US in Nevada, and Peter Childs, risk management supervisor for offshore site Sportsbook.ag. **video
No. 1 Golden State Warriors at No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers – Open: +6.5; Move: +6
Defending NBA champion Cleveland looked like it was going to make this a series on Wednesday night, holding a 113-107 lead with three minutes left in Game 3. Or at least cover the 3.5-point spread. But the Cavaliers (63-35 SU, 50-44-4 ATS) did neither, failing to score a point the rest of the way in a 118-113 home loss to stand on the brink of being swept.
With that stunning 11-0 closeout run, Golden State (82-15 SU, 51-43-3 ATS) moved to 15-0 SU and a sturdy 11-4 ATS in this postseason. In fact, the unstoppable Kevin Durant and Co. have cashed six in a row and eight of the last nine games.
Despite all that, the Cavs are finding some favor in at least part of the betting on tonight’s matchup.
“They are pounding Warriors minus the points and the Cavaliers moneyline,” Bogdanovich said of action at William Hill’s 100-plus books around the state. “They don’t think the Cavs are gonna get swept. A ton of money on the Cavs moneyline.”
Cleveland opened as a +215 underdog on the moneyline and went as high as +220, but the wagering now has the Cavs at +190. William Hill US has Golden State a -220 moneyline favorite, after opening the Warriors at -255 and reaching -260 at one point.
Sportsbook.ag opened the Warriors -6 and got to 6.5 in short order, where the number remained until this morning.
“We booked solid sharp action on the Cavaliers at +6.5, and that pushed our number down to 6,” Childs said. “While the public is betting the road favorite, it’s not enough to sway us from respecting the sharp money.”
On the total, William Hill US opened at 229, and Bogdanovich said sharp money on the under dropped that number to 228. Sportsbook.ag has made the same move, opening at 229 and seeing more action on the under en route to 228.
Bogdanovich said overall, action has been heavy to the game and to the assortment of proposition bets William Hill US is offering – specifically, props on Durant’s total points and rebounds (40.5) and LeBron James’ total points, rebounds and assists (54).
“They’re betting Durant over and LeBron over like it’s stealing,” Bogdanovich said.
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
