© Jaime Valdez | 2019 May 18
The Raptors were the only team the Warriors didn’t beat during the regular season this year. Still, they open as significant underdogs according to the Vegas oddsmakers.
Caesars Sportsbook has Golden State as -320 (bet $320 to win $100) favorites to win the series vs. Toronto. The Raptors meanwhile opened at +260 (bet $100 to win $260), meaning only last year’s Cavs team was a larger underdog over the past eight NBA Finals.
The series price reflects the belief that Kevin Durant will return at some point during the series a SportsBook executive told ESPN. Durant is expected to miss Game 1, but the Warriors still opened as -1.5 point favorites for the opener in Toronto. The line moved to a pick ’em by Sunday morning, via Bovada.
Without the services of Durant, the Warriors are 5-0 this postseason, and also won a crucial Game 5 vs. the Rockets after KD left with a calf injury in the third quarter. The Warriors have won 31 of their past 32 games when Stephen Curry plays and Durant does not.
Curry wasn’t available during Golden State’s only trip to Toronto this season, a game the Warriors lost in overtime despite a 51 point performance by Durant. The Warriors had arguably their worst showing of the season when the Raptors visited Oakland on Dec. 12, losing by 20-points despite Kawhi sitting out.