Discussing The NBA Finals Liabilities With Sportsbook Managers From NV and NJ

• Teams with homecourt advantage are 29-13 since the 1977 NBA merger.
• Those teams only when 39% of the time if the first game spread is within 6 points.
• The sportsbooks in Nevada and New Jersey would take a loss with multiple early futures bets on the Raptors.

LAS VEGAS – The Raptors took Game 1 against the Warriors and many bettors were able to successfully cash in their betting slips. The game line was set at -1 in favor of the Raptors, while the over/under was set at 215.

In a tweet from Jeff Sherman, VP of Risk Management at The SuperBook at Westgate, 77% of the tickets and 68% of the money was bet on the Warriors

NBA Finals

Game 1

Thursday, May 30, 2019

6:00 pm pacific
Golden State Warriors 213
Toronto Raptors -1

77% tickets on Warriors, 68% money wagered on Warriors

Series Price

Warriors -300
Raptors +240

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) May 30, 2019

Executive manager Derek Wilkinson was happy to see how it played out.

“We definitely want[ed] the over [too]… which is odd for a Warriors game.”

In total, over six figures were wagered on Game 1 between the spread, 1st-half line, prop bets, and all other options, according to Randy Blum, SuperBook’s manager.

For Game 2, bettors were quick to place their action on the Raptors again, moving the line from +2 to -1 in almost no time. However, as the final movement occurred, over 60% of the handle was being sent back to the Warriors side, despite another game with Kevin Durant not playing.

The series prices have shifted majorly over the course of the two games and many smart bettors were able to take advantage. To start, the Warriors were (-275) before moving down to (-150) after Game 1’s loss. After dominating the third quarter of Game 2 and coming out victorious, the odds shot back up to (-300).

The outstanding wagers are heavily on the Warriors to win the series, as bettors were able to secure lines anywhere from even to -300 throughout the course of the season. Aside from the confidence in the Warriors’ championship prowess, the numbers back up their likelihood to win.

In the Finals, home teams that are favored in the first game by less than 6 points only win the series 39% of the time (7/18).

This would work out well for Westgate, who would be even happier to see the Warriors the title again.

In a conversation with LegalSportsBetting, Blum went on to explain how multiple bettors took futures action on the Raptors throughout the course of the NBA season.

“We have a handful of bettors who plan on making over five-figures should the Raptors win. Some took it at +1800 while others even locked it in at +2000.”

Out in New Jersey at the FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands, Golden State had only accounted for 47% of the betting action to win the series (before Game 2).

This has everything to do with the New Jersey sportsbook being closer to the Raptors fan base while the Nevada book is the home to Warriors bettors.

According to Kevin Hennessy, the director of publicity at FanDuel, the most popular bet on the exact series result is the Warriors winning 4-1 at 22%. Now that they have stolen homecourt advantage, this becomes more possible, especially with the return of Kevin Durant looming.

Potentially losing Klay Thompson is a major blow to the team should his leg injury be anything of concern but Golden State could definitely accomplish the 4-1 victory under the right circumstances.

A fifth of all bettors who wagered on the exact series result at FanDuel Sportsbook lost their action after Game 1. These believers had a sweep lined up for the Warriors, something they were able to accomplish last year against Lebron James and the Cavs.

The Raptors fans at FanDuel will need their team to steal a game on the road in order to win the series 4-2, which was the most popular Raptors-winning series price. Just under 20% of the bettors look this action, which would require a Raptors’ final victory in Oakland.

Game 3 tips off on Wednesday, June 5 at 9 PM EST on Oakland.

News tags: FanDuel | NBA Finals | Nevada | New Jersey