The San Antonio Spurs need to bounce back after rough Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. With Kawhi Leonard missing in this game, everything is on the Warriors side, but the Spurs have no other solution than to give everything they have tonight in order to make a sensation at Oracle Arena and grab the home court advantage on their side.
The Warriors made one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history, but we have to say that the crooked and vicious move made by Zaza Pachulia allowed that to happened. Otherwise, we think that they wouldn't stand a chance against very well orchestrated San Antonio Spurs by Kawhi Leonard.
Golden State Warriors-San Antonio Spurs Game 1
Golden State Warriors
When Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant start playing on their usual level, they are unstoppable. Curry/Durant duo scored 74 points combined, but we have to say that they were pretty inferior while Leonard was on the floor. Warriors offense was pretty bad in the first halftime as they scored only 42 points. What Warriors need to accomplish in Game 2 is to stop LaMarcus Aldridge who completely dominated the paint in the first encounter. They will have fewer problems considering the offensive part of the match because the best defender in the league, Leonard, is not going to appear tonight.
San Antonio Spurs
The most important thing for the Spurs is to recover mentally before this game. Gregg Popovich's team knows how to play without their best player, and the Houston Rockets experienced this situation. They have to find a motive and inspiration for tonight because if they do not enter with 100% focus in this game, the Warriors will demolish them. Leonard was the best player along with LaMarcus Aldridge in Game 1 as he had 26 points, 8 rebounds in 24 minutes on the floor. Aldridge proved that he has no worthy opponent among the Warriors and that he will be the first attacking option in tonight's encounter. He scored 28 points, but in the end, he couldn't do anything by himself.
Warriors Starting Five
-Stephen Curry
-Klay Thompson
-Kevin Durant
-Draymond Green
-Zaza Pachulia
Spurs Starting Five
-Patty Mills
-Jonathon Simmons
-Danny Green
-LaMarcus Aldridge
-Pau Gasol
Prediction
Although the San Antonio Spurs made a sensation in Houston without Leonard, we think that they do not stand a chance against the Warriors, who know how to execute against the teams that have the slightest problems. With Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry on fire and just LaMarcus Aldridge, on the other side, the Warriors are absolute favorites in tonight's match. The handicap on the Warriors is -13.5, and we think that they are going to win by a greater margin.
Over under limit is 208.5 points and our prediction is over. Especially if the Warriors make an early jump and a big lead. In that situation, we will see run and gun style of play with the players who spend most of their time on the bench.
Final Outcone: Warriors win with handicap -13.5
Over/Under: Over 208.5