Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls (-2, 196)
Series tied 1-1
The Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a sharp turnaround while tying the series and look to take a 2-1 edge when they visit the Chicago Bulls in Friday’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland also gets shooting guard J.R. Smith back from a two-game suspension for hitting Boston’s Jae Crowder in the opening round.
The Cavaliers controlled Game 2 after succumbing in the opener as LeBron James rebounded from a subpar performance to record 33 points and eight rebounds in a 106-91 victory. “There wasn’t one possession where he wasn’t dominant,” point guard Kyrie Irving told reporters. “When he has that mindset, he’s the greatest player playing our game right now.” Chicago trailed by 20 points after the opening quarter in Game 2 and was never really in the contest as guards Jimmy Butler (5-of-14) -- named the league's Most Improved Player on Thursday -- and Derrick Rose (6-of-20) both had poor shooting efforts. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said the defense and rebounding will need to be better in Game 3 in addition to the shooting.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
LINE HISTORY: The line opened at CHI -2 with a total of 196.
INJURY REPORT: Cavaliers - G Iman Shupert (Ques-Groin), G J.R. Smith (Elig-Suspension) Bulls - N/A
DANCE TEAM WAR:
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: Smith returns just as the status of guard Iman Shumpert becomes uncertain after he suffered a groin injury in Game 2. Shumpert is averaging 18.5 points and made eight 3-pointers in the first two games of the series and insisted afterward that he would play but coach David Blatt told reporters the determination will be made on game day. “Time for one of those miracle 48-hour recoveries, that’s what we’re hoping for,” Blatt told reporters. “He’s obviously a very, very important player for us.”
ABOUT THE BULLS: Rose is shooting 37 percent in the series but more disturbing is that he hasn’t shot a single three throw over the past three games. “I can’t think about that,” Rose told reporters. “I don’t even want to talk about that. But I’m playing and if they’re not calling it, they’re just not calling it.” Power forward Pau Gasol will be seeking a bounce-back game after having just 11 points and four rebounds in Game 2 after producing 21 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in Game 1.
TRENDS:
*Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
*Bulls are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
*Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 games following a ATS win.
*Under is 6-1 in Bulls last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 52 percent of Covers users are backing CLE +2 with 57 percent on the over.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers (-4.5, 217)
Series tied 1-1
It appears Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul will again be on the sidelines when the Clippers host the Houston Rockets in Friday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. Paul missed the first two games of the series due to a hamstring injury he suffered the Game 7 of the first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Houston tied the series at one game apiece with Wednesday’s 115-109 victory as it set franchise playoff records for free throws made (42) and attempted (64) and received 32 points from star guard James Harden. “I knew my team was battling extremely hard and, basically, it was up to me to go out there and push us forward,” Harden told reporters. The Clippers continue to get big outings from power forward Blake Griffin, who had 34 points and 15 rebounds in Game 2 for his ninth straight double-double of the postseason. “It definitely feels like we let one get away,” Griffin told reporters. “We came here to win two but we’ve got to protect home court now. We can’t hang our heads.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
LINE HISTORY: The opening line had LAC -4.5 with a total of 217.
INJURY REPORT: Rockets - G K.J. McDaniels (Out-Wrist) Clippers - G Chris Paul (Ques-Hamstring)
DANCE TEAM WAR:
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Center Dwight Howard has played like the dominant star he once was in the first two games and contributed 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in Game 2. His knee injury is now behind him and he is averaging 23 points, 13 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while making 17-of-24 field-goal attempts. “At this point, it’s win or go home,” Howard told reporters. “You have to continue to play hard and you get through whatever. It is going to be tough out there every night. Every possession counts.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS: Coach Doc Rivers expects Paul to return at some point in the series but it doesn’t seem like Friday is even remotely possible since Paul has yet to resume running. “It’s really tough, especially with the way that I play, there’s only way I know how to play,” Paul told reporters. “It’s one of those things where you don’t want to make it worse than it already is.” Austin Rivers has started at the point in Paul’s absence and is averaging 13.5 points and 2.5 assists in the series.
TRENDS:
*Rockets are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
*Clippers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 home games.
*Over is 10-2 in Rockets last 12 vs. Western Conference.
*Over is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 games following a ATS win.
COVERS CONSENSUS: LAC -4.5 is receiving 52 percent of Covers users backing with 63 percent on the under.
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