The Golden State Warriors are going to be in a tough spot at home in Game 3 against the Sacramento Kings, as forward Draymond Green has been suspended for stepping on Domantas Sabonis in Game 2.
Green’s suspension moved the Warriors from 7.5-point favorites to five-point favorites in Game 3. Golden State has been dominant at home this season (33-8 straight up), but can the team beat the Kings without Green?
After saying he would play in Thursday’s Game 3, Sabonis is listed as questionable with a sternum injury.
Green was ejected from Game 2, and the Warriors, who were down just four at the time with the ball, went on to lose by eight points.
Kings vs. Warriors odds, spread and total
The loss of Green is huge for the Warriors on the defensive end of the floor, especially since the team hasn’t really played anyone but Green and Kevon Looney at the center spot in this series.
Over the first two games of the series, Golden State has allowed 110.1 points per 100 possessions with Green on the floor, but that number rises to 129.4 points per 100 possessions when he’s off the floor.
While the team’s offensive rating increases from 107.9 to 116.0 when Green is on the bench, Golden State’s biggest issue has been slowing down the Kings’ No. 1 rated offense in the fourth quarter.
This season, the Warriors went just 3-6 in the nine games that Green missed, which is concerning for bettors if they want to lay the five points with Golden State in this game.
The Warriors can’t afford to fall down 3-0 in this series, but the team will need some major production, specifically defensively, from Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and others that will be tasked with filling Green’s minutes.
—
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
