Professional Action Moving Warriors-Cavs Game 3 Line

Let's play two! We're following up the longest hiatus in the history of Wake and Rake with undoubtedly the shortest. At approximately 9:45 a.m. ET, the day's first Wake and Rake article went live, looking at how professionals are betting today's Brewers-Indians (1:10 p.m. ET) matchup.

Locky: A Case for Betting the Total in NBA Finals Game 3

Read now

But remember, sharp bettors don't necessarily worry about the number of bets they make and when exactly they get down, as long as the prices are right and there is the expectation of beating the closing line.

The line for tonight's Game 3 of the NBA Finals (9 p.m. ET)  opened late Sunday night, but it wasn't until a key half-point line move at 9:19 a.m. ET today that the betting market finally adjusted to an early influx of wiseguy money.

Bookmaker.eu opened the Warriors as 5-point road favorites for tonight's Game 3, and the market quickly took sharp Cavaliers money, which moved the line to Golden State +4.5 at the majority of offshore sportsbooks.

In fact, Sports Insights' Bet Signals triggered a Steam Move from Buckeye at Cleveland +5, offering an answer as to why most of the market dropped to +4.5. This is a significant move as Buckeye is a sportsbook that caters specifically to professional bettors, so line moves originating from there are respected across the betting market.

However, Bookmaker.eu, another respected offshore sportsbook, remained very reluctant to drop to Cavs +4.5 and instead adjusted their vig a handful of times. Over the last few days, Bookmaker.eu held out as long as they could before eventually making the move to Cleveland +4.5 this morning.

While spread tickets are very balanced (52% on Golden State), the combination of steam triggered at Buckeye and the corresponding line movement provides a clear signal that sharp money has come down on Cleveland.

More Coverage of Game 3

• Locky: A Case for Betting the Total in Game 3
• Download Our FREE NBA Finals Game 3 Prop Sheet
• The Angles: Can the Warriors Handle a Tighter Spread on the Road?
• How Bettors Can Profit From the Cavs' 0-2 Deficit
• Trends: Playoff Road Favorites Usually Cover
• Will a Rested LeBron Offer Bettors Value in Game 3
• Mears: Predicting the NBA Finals MVP
• Wiseguys Practicing Patience to Profit from NBA Finals Totals