2019 NBA Finals Cheat Sheet: Warriors-Raptors Game 2 Odds, Analysis, Trends, Picks, More

Updated 2019 NBA Finals Odds: Warriors vs. Raptors

• Golden State Warriors: -150
• Toronto Raptors: +130

Game 1 of the NBA Finals throw you for a loop? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Below we've compiled everything you need to know if you're betting on Warriors-Raptors from series prices/picks to Finals MVP odds to DFS and player props.

*This post will be updated with new stories throughout the series as it progresses.

How Sharps Are Betting Warriors-Raptors Game 2 Spread, Over/Under

Professional and casual bettors aren’t always on opposite sides of the same game. In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions among recreational sports bettors is that sharps and squares can’t agree.

While bettors of all skill levels can certainly make the same wagers, Game 1 of the NBA Finals closed as a classic case of professional and public bettors lining up on opposite sides of one matchup.

Casual bettors overwhelmingly jumped on the Golden State Warriors, while sharps pounded the Raptors, moving the line from Toronto +1.5 to -2.

For tonight’s Game 2, sharps are squares are once again at odds on how to bet the Warriors-Raptors spread, and have decided to disagree on the over/under as well.

Let’s look at how casual bettors are approaching tonight’s matchup, and how wiseguys are moving lines in the opposite direction. — PJ Walsh

Read more on how sharp bettors are approaching Game 2 here

More Warriors-Raptors Game 2 Analysis

• 2019 NBA Finals Warriors vs. Raptors Game 2 Betting Preview: Will Toronto Stay Hot?
• NBA Finals Game 2 Player Props: Betting Draymond Green Rebounds, More
• Moore: Why Pascal Siakam’s Game 1 Looks Sustainable, What It Means for His Game 2 Prop
• Moore: Why Andre Iguodala Is Essential For the Warriors in Game 2
• Warriors vs. Raptors Game 2 Line on the Move in Early Betting

NBA Finals Game 2 DFS Breakdown: Expect a Big Game From Draymond Green

Two players stand out above the rest on today’s slate.

Let’s start with Steph Curry. He continues to dominate the basketball for the Warriors with Kevin Durant out of the lineup and is coming off 50.25 DraftKings points in Game 1. That said, it wasn’t exactly a great performance.

He was pretty pedestrian from the field, shooting 44.4% on 18 attempts, and struggled mightily when matched up with Fred VanVleet. He shot just 1-6 over 33 possessions in that matchup, which continued VanVleet’s dominance over Curry from the regular season:

Curry was able to salvage his fantasy performance by making 14 free throws, but he’s going to have to figure out how to beat VanVleet if the Warriors are going to win their fourth title in five years.

Still, Curry offers the highest ceiling in our NBA Models, making him a strong choice at Captain or utility.

Kawhi Leonard is the most expensive option on DraftKings, and the Warriors did their best to limit him as a scorer in Game 1. He posted a usage rate of just 23.5%, which was his lowest mark of the entire postseason.

That said, their plan of attack backfired. Leonard may not have beaten them, but it didn’t stop the Raptors’ offense from firing on all cylinders.

For more DFS strategy in Warriors-Raptors read the NBA Finals breakdown here

More NBA Finals DFS Content

• 5 Tips to Dominate the DraftKings NBA Showdown Format
• How Does the Single-Game NBA Format on FanDuel Differ From DraftKings?

How Kevin Durant’s Injury Timetable Impacts Warriors-Raptors Title Odds

On Thursday night the Raptors made the select few who bet on them look smart by winning by nine points — easily covering the closing spread of -1.5/-2. Steph Curry did his fair share by dropping 34 points, but Pascal Siakam stole the show with 32 points of his own to lead the way for Toronto.

Are the Warriors in trouble if Kevin Durant can’t return? Luckily for them, that doesn’t look like it’ll be the case.

After no clear-cut answer regarding his return date, news broke Tuesday morning that Durant is expected to return sometime in the middle of the series.

Sure, there is still no specific game given, but one can assume Game 4 based on the wording. Perhaps if the Raptors win Game 2, Durant will be pushed to to return in Game 3.

Maybe it won’t be until Game 5? Nevertheless, oddsmakers are not phased by this announcement. — Mark Gallant

Read more about Kevin Durant's impact on the series odds here

More NBA Finals Futures Analysis 

• NBA Finals Series Odds & Picks
• NBA Finals Series Bets: Is Toronto Undervalued?
• NBA Finals MVP Odds: Draymond Green Proving to Be Popular Bet
• NBA Finals MVP Bets: Value on Draymond?
• Moore: Finding the Best NBA Finals MVP Betting Position
• How Many Points Per Game Will Klay Thompson Score in NBA Finals?
• Locky: How to Hedge Raptors, Warriors Futures Tickets During the NBA Finals

Warriors Playoff Betting Trends to Know: Road Dominance, KD Effect, In-Game Comebacks, More

When you accomplish something only Bill Russell did, people tend to start taking notice. The Warriors are entering their fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, a feat last achieved by the Boston Celtics from 1957-66.

During Golden State’s five-year playoff journey, it is 75-24 (75.8%) straight up and 55-43-1 (56.1%) against the spread in the playoffs.

If you would have wagered $100 on Golden State in all 99 playoff games, both straight up and against the spread, you would be up $500 off the straight-up wagers and $947 on the spread bets, for a total of $1,447!

If you are looking for a few extra tips to betting the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, let’s dig into the data to find us a few edges — Evan Abrams

Check out more relevant Golden State Warriors trends ahead of Game 2 here

More NBA Finals Betting Trends

• Should You Zig Zag Bets in the NBA Finals? Not So Fast
• NBA Finals Referees: Betting Trends for All 12 Warriors-Raptors Officials
• NBA Finals Betting Trend: Target Second-Half Home Teams, Favorites
• How Kevin Durant Injury Has Affected Odds, Expectations for Warriors
• Fade the Public When Betting Warriors Games? Not Always
• Should Bettors Fade the Public in the NBA Finals?

Moore: How Will the NBA Finals Affect Kevin Durant’s Free Agency Decision?

No one knows how the NBA Finals will or won’t affect Kevin Durant’s free agency decision. League executives commonly remarked when queried on how they think it impacts things that it’s a stupid question to begin with because it reflects the very thing Kevin Durant has railed on so many times: no one is inside his head.

However, Durant’s decision is so spectacularly impactful on the league, it could shape so many things, that it’s only natural given everything that has gone on with him and the Warriors to wonder how the Finals will shape it.

Durant has been the best player in the playoffs at one point and then saw his team win six straight without him. He has fought with Draymond Green, made up, railed at the media, responded more on social media, opened his own media offices in New York and been linked to a half dozen teams. But how do the Finals factor in?

Let’s look at the possibilities and then try and figure out, at least from the outside, what the decision looks like, with the understanding that Durant’s going to do what Durant’s going to do. — Matt Moore

Read more about Durant's impending free agency decision here

More Warriors-Raptors Coverage

• Moore: Ranking the 15 Most Important Warriors-Raptors Players in the NBA Finals
• Moore: 15 Initial Thoughts On the Warriors-Raptors NBA Finals
• NBA Courtroom with Wob & Moore: Are the Warriors Better Without Kevin Durant?
• Wob & Moore: Kawhi Leonard Has Ascended to the LeBron, Durant Tier of NBA Royalty
• Road Warriors: Inside Golden State’s 19 Consecutive Series Road Winning Streak
• Wob: No Matter What Happens with Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors Have Already Won