This matchup feels a little muted as two key stars are out for both sides. The Spurs will be without All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who is recovering and also – allegedly – in a rift with the team. As for the Warriors, they’ll be without Steph Curry for the opening round, which makes them significantly more vulnerable.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Warriors were surprisingly bad against winning teams down the stretch, covering just four of their last 20 games against teams above .500. The Spurs are 14-13 ATS and 12-15 ATS in their last 27 against winning teams.

The Spurs struggled against good offensive teams, going 17-24-1 ATS and 17-25 SU versus squads that score 106 points per NBA matchup or more.

The Warriors have won six of the last seven home meetings and 11 of the last 15 overall.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are capable of pulling a surprise in Game 1 because the Warriors are about as vulnerable as we’ve seen them in the last three or four seasons. They’re without Curry and they enter the playoffs in the midst of a cold spell, which has to concern the coaching staff. The Warriors have lost three of their last four games and went 7-10 to end the year. More importantly – since the Spurs don’t have home court advantage – the Warriors have dropped four of five at home. To put that in perspective, the Warriors didn’t lose their 10^th game of the season until playing their 50^th contest (40-10), so dropping 10 of 17 is notable.

While the Spurs had some issues down the stretch too, their defense remained strong and that will be the key to their success. They allowed 100.1 points per game over their last 15 contests, which is the third-best mark over that span. This is an experienced, savvy team and while they’re without Leonard, they have plenty of depth to makeup for it.

Golden State Warriors

One of the main issues for the Spurs in Game 1 and in this series is going to be the fact that they simply aren’t a very good road team. Usually, they are but this year, they are a pathetic 14-27 in away games and enter having lost eight straight road games. None of the other 15 teams in the playoffs have compiled less wins, which is a really bad sign. As for the Warriors, even after a sluggish regular season, they still finished 29-12 both at home and on the road.

The main question for Golden State is can they survive the loss of Curry. The answer to that should be yes. They still have three other All-Stars in Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. They also have impeccable team chemistry and coaching. That should insulate them from being upset in this series.

The Spurs have mostly been a mess since the start of February, which likely carries over into Game 1. They were 34-20 entering February but finished the year 13-15. Golden State coasted a bit but now it’s playoff time. They know how to flip the switch.

Injuries

San Antonio

Manu Ginobili (SG)

Out Wed Rest - 04 / 04 / 18

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Face - 17 / 03 / 18

Dejounte Murray (PG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 16 / 03 / 18

Rudy Gay (SF)

Prob Thurs Ear - 06 / 03 / 18

Pau Gasol (C)

Ques Sat Shoulder - 06 / 03 / 18

Tony Parker (PG)

Prob Mon Back - 09 / 02 / 18

Brandon Paul (SG)

Ques Wed Back - 02 / 02 / 18

LaMarcus Aldridge (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 24 / 01 / 18

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

out for season Quadricep - 15 / 01 / 18

Joffrey Lauvergne (C)

Ques Sat Finger - 04 / 12 / 17

Golden State

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18

JaVale McGee (C)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18

David West (PF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Mon Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18

Damian Jones (C)

Prob Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 18

Nick Young (SG)

Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 04 / 18

Kevon Looney (SF)

Prob Thurs Flu - 02 / 04 / 18

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Early June Back - 01 / 04 / 18

Quinn Cook (PG)

Prob Tues Knee - 27 / 03 / 18

Chris Boucher (SF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18

Injuries

San Antonio

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Manu Ginobili (SG)	Out Wed	Rest - 04 / 04 / 18	3-7	6-3-1	+ -
Ginobili will not play Wednesday against the Lakers as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Face - 17 / 03 / 18	9-9	10-7-1	+ -
Green suffered a facial injury last game but is expected to be back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Timberwolves.
Dejounte Murray (PG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 16 / 03 / 18	10-9	10-8-1	+ -
Murray departed the last game with an ankle injury and it is unknown if he will play against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Rudy Gay (SF)	Prob Thurs	Ear - 06 / 03 / 18	11-13	11-12-1	+ -
Gay blew out his left eardrum but is expected to suit up for Thursday's game against the Warriors.
Pau Gasol (C)	Ques Sat	Shoulder - 06 / 03 / 18	11-13	11-12-1	+ -
Gasol sat out the previous game with a shoulder injury and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Thunder on Saturday.
Tony Parker (PG)	Prob Mon	Back - 09 / 02 / 18	15-16	17-13-1	+ -
Parker sat out the last game due to tightness in his back but is likely to play against the Jazz on Monday.
Brandon Paul (SG)	Ques Wed	Back - 02 / 02 / 18	15-19	19-14-1	+ -
Paul missed the last game with back spasms and his status is uncertain against the Suns on Wednesday.
LaMarcus Aldridge (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 24 / 01 / 18	18-21	22-16-1	+ -
Aldridge will not be available against the Grizzlies on Wednesday due to a day of rest.
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	out for season	Quadricep - 15 / 01 / 18	21-22	22-20-1	+ -
Leonard has been held out of action while recovering from tendinopathy in his right quadriceps and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Joffrey Lauvergne (C)	Ques Sat	Finger - 04 / 12 / 17	32-31	31-32-1	+ -
Lauvergne sat out his third straight game with an injured finger and it is unknown if he will play against the Suns on Saturday.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18	10-9	7-12	+ -
Livingston is dealing with a left ankle injury but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
JaVale McGee (C)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18	10-9	7-12	+ -
McGee is nursing a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
David West (PF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18	11-9	7-12-1	+ -
West sustained an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Spurs.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Mon	Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18	11-9	7-12-1	+ -
Iguodala is expected to suit up against the Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round despite a left thigh contusion.
Damian Jones (C)	Prob Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 18	12-11	8-14-1	+ -
Jones is expected to suit up Tuesday against the Jazz despite a left mid-foot sprain.
Nick Young (SG)	Prob Sat	Illness - 07 / 04 / 18	12-12	9-14-1	+ -
Young is battling an illness but is expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Pelicans.
Kevon Looney (SF)	Prob Thurs	Flu - 02 / 04 / 18	14-13	10-16-1	+ -
Looney was absent from the lineup during the last game due to flu-like symptoms but is likely to be available against the Pacers on Thursday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Early June	Back - 01 / 04 / 18	14-14	11-16-1	+ -
McCaw is sidelined with a lumbosacral bone bruise and is expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Quinn Cook (PG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 27 / 03 / 18	14-16	12-17-1	+ -
Cook is dealing with a left knee contusion but is expected to play in Tuesday's contest against the Pacers.
Chris Boucher (SF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18	15-16	12-18-1	+ -
Boucher has been held out of action due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown how much time he will be forced to miss.

Spurs vs. Warriors Game 1 Prediction