NBA Finals Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-31-2018, 21:00 EDT

Spread: Golden State Warriors -12

Total: +214.5

In Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, we have the rivalry that has dominated the finals for the 4^th straight season, as the defending champions and second best in the West Golden State Warriors, are hosting last season’s finalists and fourth in the East Cleveland Cavaliers, with both teams needed a game 7 in their respective conference finals in order to advance.

Cleveland finished the regular season with a 50-32 record and they were placed 4^th in the East. They are 4-1 in their last five games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Boston on the road in game seven with an 87-79 score. Golden State finished the regular season with a 58-24 record and were placed 2^nd in the West. They have two straight wins and in their last game they were victorious against Houston on the road in game seven with a 101-92 score.

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Cavs are led in scoring by LeBron James with 34 ppg. He also adds 9.2 rebounds and a team-best 8.8 assists per game, while Kevin Love adds 13.9 ppg and a team-best 10 rebounds per game. Warriors are led in scoring by Kevin Durant with 29 ppg. He also adds 7.1 rebounds and 4 assists per game, while Steph Curry follows with 24.8 ppg, adding 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Klay Thompson adds 20.5 ppg.

This will be the third meeting between those two teams this season, with Golden State leading 2-0 wins. This will also be the 19^th time the will meet in the NBA Finals, with Golden State leading 11-7 wins. Golden State have a 37-13 home record, while Cleveland are 25-25 on the road. Golden State are better offensively, scoring a second-best 109.1 ppg to Cleveland’s 101.2 (third-worse), while Cleveland are better defensively, allowing a second-best 99.9 ppg to Golden State’s 100.3 (third-best). Golden State have better accuracy both from inside the arc (47.2% to 46.1%) and from behind the arc (35.2% to 33.9%). Cleveland are better in turnovers committed (12.8 to 13.5), while Warriors dish more assists (25.6 to 18.8) and grab more rebounds (46.2 to 40.2). LeBron carried the Cavaliers so far in the postseason against much weaker teams than their opponents tonight but it will be impossible to do so against the Warriors team.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 1 Prediction: Golden State Warriors -12 (-107)