The streaking Golden State Warriors visit the stumbling Cleveland Cavaliers in downtown Ohio. Will this be a cakewalk for the Dubs?
Catch the game tomorrow at 7:00 AM, Manila time.
HOME: Cleveland Cavaliers (2-4, 0-3 HOME)
Projected starting five:
- Darius Garland
- Donovan Mitchell
- Max Strus
- Evan Mobley
- Jarrett Allen
The Cavaliers’ terrible start continues. They went back to the losing column on Saturday as they were defeated by the Indiana Pacers in the group stage of the In-Season Tournament, 121-116.
Adding to the concern is the Cavs’ 0-2 slate to the Warriors last season, when the Dubs had bad chemistry all around, as opposed to now, wherein everything’s looking better. Further, these four losses in six games is also in spite of their All-Star guard, Donovan Mitchell, averaging 32.8 points per game on 53.2% shooting.
As a slight defense, starting point guard Darius Garland did miss three outings with an injury and just came back last game. He’ll get it going soon enough. While he’s trying to return to form, Caris LeVert (18.2 PPG), Evan Mobley (15.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG), and Max Strus (13.5 PPG) will be Mitchell’s main scoring cohorts. Mobley is in a good matchup, and he averaged 18.5 points and 10.0 boards vs. the Warriors last season.
The Cavs are scoring 105.7 PPG and have -5.2 net rating.
AWAY: Golden State Warriors (5-1, 4-0 AWAY)
Projected starting five:
- Chris Paul
- Stephen Curry
- Klay Thompson
- Draymond Green
- Kevon Looney
The Warriors have been very different from last season’s up-and-down campaign. They appear to be back on track as an elite team, and they’re also wiping their road woes away, as seen in starting with four-straight road wins.
The winning streak now stands at five, with the most recent being a 141-139 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the In-Season tournament. It was a dogfight that saw the Dubs claw their way back from a deficit and culminate with a Stephen Curry game-winner courtesy of a high-arching lay-up. The 35-year-old is lighting it up for 30.8 PPG through six games, and is one of just five players averaging 30 or more on the season. He also dropped 40 points in his lone meeting with the Cavs last season.
Nevertheless, Curry showing his classic scoring prowess has allowed Klay Thompson (16.8 PPG) and Andrew Wiggins (12.3) to have a pedestrian start, even Chris Paul (8.0 PPG, 9.0 APG) isn’t involved much outside of collecting assists.
The Warriors are averaging 117.5 PPG with a +7.7 net rating.
PREDICTION:
Handicap: The Warriors (+1.5) win to extend their streak to six.
Over/Under: The total goes over 224.