LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have their work cut out for them with the Pacers. The Cavs were pegged as 1-point favourites at the open on the road for Game 3.
The Pacers come back to Indiana full of confidence and with a series split against the three-time defending East champion Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James hasn’t been tested like this in the first round of the playoffs since his first years in the league. Will Victor Oladipo and the Pacers strike back in this NBA matchup in Game 3?
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 19 Apr 4:19am | CLE | -1.5 -110 | O +208.5 -110 |
| Closing 20 Apr 11:14pm | CLE | -1.5 -110 | O +209.5 -110 |
The Cavaliers won but failed to cover as 8-point home favourites in Game 2. The Cavs are now 0-2 against the spread in the playoffs and 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the Pacers.
Cleveland’s lack of offensive punch is another talking point in the postseason. LeBron and Co. averaged 110.9 points per game during the regular season but they’re averaging just 90 a night during the playoffs. The under is 2-0 so far in the series and 4-0-1 in the last five meetings between the two teams.
Indiana improved to 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games and 49-35 ATS overall on the year. The Under is also 52-31-1 in their last 84 contests.
Despite losing home court advantage, Cleveland is listed as a -357 series favorite on the Sports Interaction NBA odds board. The Pacers are priced as +240 underdogs to knock off the Cavaliers.
Cleveland Cavaliers
This year’s edition of the Cavaliers is being compared to some of those talent-deprived squads LeBron James dragged through the playoffs last decade – and for good reason. James doesn’t have the same star support like he did last year when Kyrie Irving could take shoulder the scoring load.
James is averaging 35 points in the series and Kevin Love is second at 12 per game. Cleveland needs Love at his regular All-Star level instead of the scrub performances he’s shown in the first two games of the series. Love dislocated his thumb late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 but Cavs coach Ty Lue told reporters the thumb wouldn’t keep Love from playing on Friday night.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana withstood a 15-point first quarter deficit and had a great chance to tie the game in the final seconds. The Pacers recovered despite Victor Oladipo playing just 28 minutes due to foul trouble. Indiana went 0-7 SU and ATS without Oladipo during the regular season and the club was +11 with their All-Star on the floor in Game 2. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Prediction
Injuries
JR Smith (SG)
George Hill (PG)
Rodney Hood (SG)
Kyle Korver (SG)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Jose Calderon (PG)
Jeff Green (SF)
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Cedi Osman (SF)
LeBron James (SF)
Joe Young (PG)
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF)
Thaddeus Young (PF)
Trevor Booker (PF)
Myles Turner (C)
TJ Leaf (PF)
Darren Collison (PG)
Lance Stephenson (SG)
Domantas Sabonis (C)
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Smith (SG) | Ques Mon | Illness - 06 / 05 / 18 | 7-6 | 6-7 | + - |
|
Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 01 / 05 / 18 | 8-7 | 8-7 | + - |
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Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors. |
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| Rodney Hood (SG) | Prob Wed | Personal - 18 / 04 / 18 | 9-12 | 9-12 | + - |
|
Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter. |
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| Kyle Korver (SG) | Prob Wed | Illness - 16 / 04 / 18 | 9-12 | 9-12 | + - |
|
Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Prob Sun | Personal - 13 / 04 / 18 | 9-13 | 9-13 | + - |
|
Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Jose Calderon (PG) | Prob Mon | Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18 | 12-14 | 12-14 | + - |
|
Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks. |
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| Jeff Green (SF) | Prob Tues | Illness - 23 / 03 / 18 | 18-15 | 14-19 | + - |
|
Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat. |
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| Larry Nance Jr. (PF) | Ques Fri | Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18 | 20-18 | 18-20 | + - |
|
Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns. |
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| Cedi Osman (SF) | Prob Wed | Hip - 10 / 03 / 18 | 21-19 | 18-22 | + - |
|
Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday. |
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| LeBron James (SF) | Prob Tues | Leg - 12 / 02 / 18 | 25-24 | 22-27 | + - |
|
James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Young (PG) | Ques Fri | Illness - 19 / 04 / 18 | 4-1 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Young has missed the last two games due to a sinus infection and it is uncertain if he will play against the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Bojan Bogdanovic (SF) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 | 6-2 | 2-6 | + - |
|
Bogdanovic will sit out Tuesday's game against the Hornets so that he can receive a day's rest. |
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| Thaddeus Young (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 | 6-2 | 2-6 | + - |
|
Young will not suit up against the Hornets on Tuesday as he will be given the day off to rest. |
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| Trevor Booker (PF) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 | 11-4 | 6-9 | + - |
|
Booker was held out of the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday. |
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| Myles Turner (C) | Prob Mon | Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18 | 14-7 | 7-14 | + - |
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Turner missed the last game with a left high-ankle sprain but is likely to play against the Lakers on Monday. |
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| TJ Leaf (PF) | Prob Fri | Calf - 07 / 02 / 18 | 23-11 | 10-24 | + - |
|
Leaf has missed the past three games with left calf soreness but is expected to be available against the Hawks on Friday. |
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| Darren Collison (PG) | Prob Fri | Knee - 05 / 02 / 18 | 24-11 | 10-25 | + - |
|
Collison is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery but is expected to return Friday against the Hawks. |
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| Lance Stephenson (SG) | Prob Wed | Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18 | 25-13 | 12-26 | + - |
|
Stephenson is dealing with a sore right thigh but is likely to play against the Grizzlies on Wednesday. |
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| Domantas Sabonis (C) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18 | 30-17 | 14-32-1 | + - |
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Sabonis is expected to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a sore left shoulder. |
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| Victor Oladipo (SG) | Prob Sat | Knee - 27 / 12 / 17 | 32-23 | 17-37-1 | + - |
|
Oladipo has missed the last four games with a sore right knee but is expected to return against the Bulls on Saturday. |
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Cavaliers vs. Pacers Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 19 Apr 4:19am CLE -1.5 -110 O +208.5 -110 Closing 20 Apr 11:14pm CLE -1.5 -110 O +209.5 -110 -
Injuries
JR Smith (SG)
Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18George Hill (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18Rodney Hood (SG)
Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18Kyle Korver (SG)
Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18Tristan Thompson (C)
Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18Jose Calderon (PG)
Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18Jeff Green (SF)
Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18Cedi Osman (SF)
Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18LeBron James (SF)
Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18Joe Young (PG)
Ques Fri Illness - 19 / 04 / 18Bojan Bogdanovic (SF)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18Thaddeus Young (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18Trevor Booker (PF)
Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18Myles Turner (C)
Prob Mon Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18TJ Leaf (PF)
Prob Fri Calf - 07 / 02 / 18Darren Collison (PG)
Prob Fri Knee - 05 / 02 / 18Lance Stephenson (SG)
Prob Wed Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18Domantas Sabonis (C)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18Victor Oladipo (SG)
Prob Sat Knee - 27 / 12 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes JR Smith (SG) Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18 7-6 6-7 + - Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
George Hill (PG) Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18 8-7 8-7 + - Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
Rodney Hood (SG) Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18 9-12 9-12 + - Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter.
Kyle Korver (SG) Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18 9-12 9-12 + - Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tristan Thompson (C) Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18 9-13 9-13 + - Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jose Calderon (PG) Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18 12-14 12-14 + - Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks.
Jeff Green (SF) Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18 18-15 14-19 + - Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF) Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18 20-18 18-20 + - Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns.
Cedi Osman (SF) Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18 21-19 18-22 + - Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday.
LeBron James (SF) Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18 25-24 22-27 + - James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Joe Young (PG) Ques Fri Illness - 19 / 04 / 18 4-1 1-4 + - Young has missed the last two games due to a sinus infection and it is uncertain if he will play against the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 6-2 2-6 + - Bogdanovic will sit out Tuesday's game against the Hornets so that he can receive a day's rest.
Thaddeus Young (PF) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 6-2 2-6 + - Young will not suit up against the Hornets on Tuesday as he will be given the day off to rest.
Trevor Booker (PF) Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 11-4 6-9 + - Booker was held out of the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Myles Turner (C) Prob Mon Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18 14-7 7-14 + - Turner missed the last game with a left high-ankle sprain but is likely to play against the Lakers on Monday.
TJ Leaf (PF) Prob Fri Calf - 07 / 02 / 18 23-11 10-24 + - Leaf has missed the past three games with left calf soreness but is expected to be available against the Hawks on Friday.
Darren Collison (PG) Prob Fri Knee - 05 / 02 / 18 24-11 10-25 + - Collison is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery but is expected to return Friday against the Hawks.
Lance Stephenson (SG) Prob Wed Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18 25-13 12-26 + - Stephenson is dealing with a sore right thigh but is likely to play against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Domantas Sabonis (C) Prob Sun Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18 30-17 14-32-1 + - Sabonis is expected to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a sore left shoulder.
Victor Oladipo (SG) Prob Sat Knee - 27 / 12 / 17 32-23 17-37-1 + - Oladipo has missed the last four games with a sore right knee but is expected to return against the Bulls on Saturday.