NBA Playoffs
NBA Finals
Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -4.5, Total: 195

The Warriors look to finish off the series when they visit the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

The Golden State Warriors used a late 19-7 run to pull away from the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. PG Stephen Curry found his MVP form and led the way with 37 points on 7-for-13 shooting from three-point range. SF Andre Iguodala started for the second consecutive game and played well, scoring 14 points and adding eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. PF Draymond Green also turned in a solid performance with 16 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, and SG Leandro Barbosa chipped in off the bench with 13 points. SF LeBron James once again led the way for the Cavs with an incredible 40 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. His supporting cast was not at its best, and only PF Tristan Thompson, who finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, had a strong individual outing. The Under is now 3-1-1 in the series. The Cavs are 2-3 SU and 2-3 ATS against the Warriors in the NBA Finals, including 1-1 SU and 1-1 ATS at home. Golden State is 20-8 ATS after two straight wins by 10 points or more this season. Cleveland, however, is 11-3 ATS revenging a road loss of 10 points or more this season. PG Kyrie Irving (Knee), PF Kevin Love (Shoulder), and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) remain out for the season for the Cavaliers, while the Warriors have no notable injury concerns.

Golden State has used a small lineup in the past two games of the NBA Finals, and the strategy seems to be working for Steve Kerr. PG Stephen Curry (26.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG in series) shot the ball often and effectively in Game 5, and finished with 37 points, the most he has scored all series. This strong performance included 17 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Despite shooting just 2-for-11 from the free throw line, SF Andre Iguodala (14.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.2 SPG in series) was invaluable for the Warriors in many facets of the game. He must, however, improve from the charity stripe or Kerr may need to take him out on the off chance the Cavaliers go to the “Hack-A-Shaq”. SG Klay Thompson (18.0 PPG in series) was quiet with 12 points, but like in Game 4, when he scored just 9 points, his team was still able to prevail. If both Curry and Thompson play well in Game 6, Golden State could very well be NBA Champions by the end of the night.

A huge triple-double from SF LeBron James (36.6 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.2 SPG in series) was not enough to give the Cavaliers a 3-2 edge in the series, and his team will need to win on its home court in order to force a Game 7. His help in Game 5 was limited to PF Tristan Thompson (9.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG in series), as the rest of Cleveland’s lineup played poorly. C Timofey Mozgov (13.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG in series) went scoreless in just nine minutes of action after a career Game 6 in which he scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and seems to be a victim of the downsized lineups employed by the Warriors. David Blatt opted once again to play just eight players, and he seems unlikely to change his rotation in Game 6, which could be the last of the NBA season.