2 min read • May 18, 2022
Posted in
The Western Conference finals begins tonight with the top two seeded teams ousted from the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors took down the Morant-less Grizzlies in six games while the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world, blowing out the title favorites Phoenix Suns in Game 7 by 33 points.
Game 1s for the Warriors have been a gold mine since Steve Kerr took over the head coaching duties in 2014 posting a solid 18-2 record straight up at home. On top of this mountain the Mavericks have to climb, the record for teams coming off Game 7 victories is 12 games under .500 ATS.
The advantage the Mavericks do hold is health with the Dallas holding the higher SIC score by 5.9 points. The only injury of concern is that of sharpshooter Tim Hardaway who has been out for the majority of the year nursing a broken foot. We at sicscore.com do not expect the former Knick to comeback this series.
The huge injury to follow for the Warriors is that of Gary Payton II who suffered a fractured elbow last round and will like miss the entire Mavericks series. The loss effects the defense as the stud defender is know to help cover the opponent’s top player. Morant was able to take advantage of this before he suffered an injury dropping 81 total points in two games against a Payton-less Warriors defense. SF Otto Porter will return after missing time due to right foot soreness.
Although injuries not as prevalent as other series from around playoffs, prop value remains heading into Game 1:
Injury-based Prop Bets
Andrew Wiggins O15.5 Points - The Canadian international has played more with Payton out and will likely stay on the court due to his defensive abilities, can play multple positions which is useful on both ends of the court, Porter recovering from a foot injury which opens even more minutes up, has gone over this prop in went over prop in all but one game during the Grizzlies series
Jalen Brunson U19.5 Points - Luka Doncic has done it all this series and will need offensive support with a vaunted Warriors to ahead of him, Hardaway injury has been muted by the play of Brunson but the Villanova alum will be focused on this series with many knowing limiting Doncic a impossible task to stop, Warriors with try to stop all the secondary scoring the Mavericks have to offer which will likely push Brunson under the prop
Written by
