Spurs at Warriors Game 2 NBA betting & line betting predictions

Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 11am AEST, Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, watch on ESPN

Game 1:

Golden State Warriors defeated San Antonio Spurs 113-111

Game 2:

San Antonio Spurs: $6.40 with Sportsbet.com.au

Golden State Warriors: -769.23 with Sportsbet.com.au

IF Game One was anything to go by, this series between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs is going to be epic.

There’s just one problem – the Spurs’ best player might be out for the count.

San Antonio superstar Kawhi Leonard was doing as he pleased, leading the Spurs to a massive 25 point lead at one stage, only to roll his ankle twice, forcing him from the game.

Leonard had a ridiculous 26 points in just 24 minutes to go along with eight rebounds and a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line before disaster struck.

He first landed awkwardly on the foot of David Lee – who was sitting on the bench at the time – and then, after some treatment, came back into the game and again landed awkwardly, this time on Golden State centre ZaZa Pachulia.

This would force him to leave the game for good and sparked outrage from the non-Golden State faithful, with many claiming the big Georgian centre had stepped into Leonard’s landing zone in a bid to purposely injure the superstar.

The “dirty” slander flew thick and fast on Twitter, but Pachulia was not even looking at Leonard when he landed and, looking at it with a level head, you’d have to think it was slightly clumsy at absolute worst.

Never the less, Leonard is awaiting the results of an MRI and could yet miss another game, after the sore ankle kept him out of the decisive Game Six clash with Houston in the second round.

The Spurs did not need him then, but they desperately need him now against a Golden State Warriors’ side that possesses more offensive weapons than the US Army.

Before Leonard went out from the game, the Warriors looked listless and were down by 25 points at one stage.

But you just knew the scoring outburst was coming, and so it did, propelled by Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

And boy, would it come, with an 18-0 run paring back the deficit to something more manageable and then a big last quarter from Durant helping them home.

Curry poured in seven three pointers on his way to a game high 40 points that went along with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, showing every one why he is the reigning back to back NBA MVP.

And his partner in crime Durant also cooked after the break, with a diverse stat line of 34 points, five rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

The Dubs eventually took the lead in the closing moments and holding on, despite big man LaMarcus Aldridge continuing his resurgence as a real force in the NBA.

The tower of power scored 28 points and ripped down eight rebounds, but the Spurs were heavily reliant on ageing veteran Manu Ginobili, who had 17 off the bench and continues to wind back the clock, while Jonathan Simmons had 12.

While Leonard would be a massive out for the Spurs, the Warriors have some injury woe of their own, with 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala also in serious doubt thanks to soreness in his left knee.

He played only 10 minutes in Game One and left the Warriors a serious weapon short off the bench.

Only Sean Livingstone played more than 10 minutes off the bench as the Warriors chose to ride their starters out of the mire.

Game predictions

Game result: Golden State Warriors to win (-2000 with Crownbet.com.au)

Line betting: Golden State Warriors +12.5 (-105.26 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Even if Leonard does play, the Spurs may just have blown their best chance of recording a win in the series. Up by so many with such little time to play, a loss like that could well be the knockout blow to their collective psyche the Spurs simply did no need. A healthy Kawhi and we probably give the Spurs a good chance in this one. But, even if he does take the floor, you know that he will be sore and tender from the pair of ankle injuries he suffered on a leg that he was already having dramas with. The Spurs always looked the team most likely to topple the might of the Warriors, but not now. Injuries have robbed them of rejuvenated points guard Tony Parker and, when you add Leonard to that list, it becomes nearly impossible. How are the Spurs going to stop all those Warrior weapons when they are on offence and what a out defence? Leonard is a two time Defensive Player of the Year and the marshall of the Spurs’ impressive defensive team. Without him, they looked listless an and lost. How are they going to keep up with a team like Golden State? The answer is, they can’t. If Leonard plays, we reckon the Spurs can keep it within striking distance. If he ddoesn’t, then they will have a very tough time of it. Look for both Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to play better in game two after both men struggled with their shot in Game One. If Leonard is out, smash the line at +12.5 points mark – it will get bigger, trust us.