Things are going swimmingly for the Golden State Warriors after they went 3-0 up in their NBA Playoffs Final Four series against the Dallas Mavericks.
However, in the other playoff game, the Miami Heat may lead the Boston Celtics 2-1 in their series, but it is the injuries to some key players on both teams that has made significant headlines over the weekend.
So far, it has been a tale of two contrasting series, one dominated by one team who have swept through their opening three games in style, the other a brutal and sometimes bruising encounter between two teams that are very evenly matched.
DraftKings Sportsbook have now got the Warriors as -155 favourites to win the NBA Championship this year, the shortest price that they have been all season (unless you backed them at the start of the season like I suggested!)
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Let’s take a closer look at why that is the case.
Warriors Take 3-0 Lead As Dallas Struggle
After losing the first game in the series by 25 points and the second game by nine points,
the Mavericks headed to their home court hoping that this kind of improvement would continue in front of their own fans.
In the end, the Warriors once again produced another vintage display to claim a 109-100 victory that exposed the weaknesses the Mavericks have with strength in depth to surround their playmaker Luka Doncic.
Doncic, Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie combined for 86 of Dallas’ total points, Doncic with 40, Dinwiddie with 26 and Brunson 20 but they barely received much help and the Mavericks had no answer on defense to the Warriors strength in depth.
Andrew Wiggins piled on 27 points, with 11 rebounds, Kevin Looney added 9 points with 12 rebounds while Steph Curry added 31 assists and 11 assists and Klay Thompson landed 19 points and 7 rebounds.
No team has ever come from 3-0 down to win an NBA Playoff series, which explains why the Mavericks are now +6000 with DraftKings to win it all.
The only negative for the Warriors was an injury to Otto Porter Jr, who left the game with a sore foot in the first half.
The fourth game in the series takes place on Tuesday night and few would bet against the Warriors sweeping the series. Despite that the Warriors are -110 on the moneyline, the same as the Mavericks, which suggests the bookmakers feel Dallas may win at least one game in the series.
First Quarter Blowout Sets Up Heat For A Key Win In Boston
Standing at 1-1 in the series, the Miami Heat produced a blistering first quarter display on
Saturday to open up a 21-point gap on the Boston Celtics in the first quarter and despite a comeback attempt, the Heat hung on to record a 109-103 win to lead the series 2-1.
However, they paid a big price with Jimmy Butler only able to play for a half and he is now listed as questionable for tonight’s second game in Boston.
He’s not the only Heat player in that position. Tyler Herro, P.J.Tucker, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry are all still rated as questionable.
Without Butler, Miami barely hung on, a key steal by Lowry with 44 seconds to go cementing the win as the Celtics closed to within 7 points of Miami.
The Celtics also have their injury worries after Marcus Smart twisted his ankle in Game 3 and had to be helped off court, he is also questionable for Game 4, while Jayson Tatum is listed as probable.
Kyle Lowry’s return may not have resulted in a slew of points for the hugely talented Heat star, but it provides Boston with another conundrum their defense needs to solve in Game 4 and beyond.
The Celtics are -275 to win the game tonight, with the Heat +220.
