Down two-games to none (0-2) in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers are favored by a -3 ½ point chalk at most online sportsbooks for Sunday’s game-three with tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. After losing two competitive games at the Palace in Auburn Hills, the Cavaliers should be brimming with confidence on their return to home-court where they average over 97 points per game and have won four of five playoff appearances there.
On the downside for the Cavaliers is their recent track record against the Pistons in Cleveland. Detroit swept both games SU and ATS at The-Q this season and has won its last three games in Cleveland dating to last season.
Although Detroit has the straight-up advantage in this series, it has been the Cavaliers that have had success covering the spread. The Cavaliers have covered the last four meetings, all as underdogs and are 9-of-12 ATS over the last 12 games. However two of the three games the Cavaliers didn’t cover were their two home games, in which they were favored and lost outright.
On Thursday, Rasheed Wallace scored 16 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and hit the go-ahead jumper with 24.3 seconds left, as No. 1 Detroit rallied to beat the second-seeded Cavaliers, 79-76, in Game 2 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Jason Maxiel ended with 15 points , while Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups both scored 13 for the Pistons, who ended an impressive 6-of-11 from three-point range. Detroit won despite an off-night for Tayshaun Prince, who missJason Maxiell ened all eight of his shots and ended with just one point.
LeBron James finished with 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists to lead the Cavaliers, but like Game 1 he passed up a shot that would have extended a Cleveland lead in the final minute.
In the opener, Billups' three-pointer with 1:52 left put Detroit ahead and Cleveland came up empty on a pair of chances inside the final 20 seconds, as the Pistons beat the Cavaliers, 79-76, at The Palace. James ended with just 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Cavaliers, and with a chance to tie the game with under 10 seconds left, he kicked a pass out to Donyell Marshall, who missed a wide-open three-pointer from the corner.
Detroit, which is 4-1 as the visitor in the postseason, has won two straight Game 3s in the playoffs, while the Cavaliers have won four of their last five Game 3s and are 1-1 all-time in the third game of the East finals.
