Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game 3: Prediction, Odds, Preview For 2019 Playoffs

The Golden State Warriors have a chance to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the 2019 Western Conference Finals Saturday night. The odds are against the back-to-back defending champs, who find themselves as underdogs at the Moda Center.

According to the latest betting line at OddsShark, the Blazers are favored over the Warriors by 2.5 points, despite losing two straight games at Oracle Arena. The Game 3 total is 221.

After getting blown out in the series opener, Portland actually came close to stealing home-court advantage Thursday night. The Blazers led by as much as 16 points in the third quarter and a Seth Curry three-pointer even gave them a one-point lead with 63 seconds remaining in regulation.

Whenever it looked like Portland had a real chance to upset Golden State, the Warriors reminded everyone why they’ve been nearly unbeatable for five straight years.

Led by a few three-pointers from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Golden State cut Portland’s 16-point lead to just three points within exactly two minutes. When the Warriors fell behind in the game’s final minute, they executed two perfect offensive possessions while keeping the Blazers off the scoreboard.

Maybe Portland will be able to hold onto a Game 3 lead when they are at home, but it’s hard to bet against the champs when they are underdogs against an opponent that’s clearly overmatched.

Golden State hasn’t missed Kevin Durant at all in this series. Curry continues to be a menace on offense, averaging 36.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game on 22.5 shots per contest against Portland. As good as Damian Lillard is, Curry is just that much better.

Thompson continues to be deadly from three-point range. After making four of his eight attempts in Game 2, the shooting guard has made at least four threes on no worse than 50 percent shooting from distance in three of the last four contests.

Maybe Curry or Thompson will miss some shots they usually make in Game 3. The Warriors still know they can count on Draymond Green to be a monster defensively and a devastating pick-and-roll partner. Green’s playing at an All-NBA level with 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game this series.

The Blazers need Lillard or CJ McCollum to have one of those games where they simply can’t miss. Curry and Thompson are just as likely to have a similar night, putting Portland in grave danger of falling into an insurmountable series hole.

Game 3 Prediction: Golden State over Portland, 112-110