The NBA Playoffs return tonight after all eight teams got Thursday off, and it's the Bulls and Heat who tangle first.

 

The Chicago Bulls play their first home game of their 1-1 series with the Heat, and as strange as that series has started, I am staying away from the betting window and just watching that one as a fan.

 

Instead, I will patiently wait for the money to roll in with the 9.30pm est tip when Golden State also gets their first crack at the Spurs at home in their series, which is also tied at a game apiece.

 

Not to be lazy here, but we made a pretty good case for the Warriors covering the 7 Wednesday night in San Antonio, and you know what happened from there: they won outright. So we will stick with the Warriors (-3 at Bovada) for the same reasons again. The only change is Golden State's consecutive streak of covering games went from 10 to 11 with Wednesday's win. If you want more backing, just check out the Bovada data tool on the Home page.

 

There, you will find Golden State beat the Spurs by 10 and 6 at home in the regular season. They are a team on the rise, and we are watching a superstar in the making in Stephen Curry.  If they were stock on the market, -3 is great value here for a real up and comer in the NBA. Take the Warriors minus the little number.

 

But we're not through there. Back home at Oracle Arena, I think the Warriors and Spurs will play at the Game 1 pace (which went over the total in regulation), as opposed to Game 2 when things slowed down considerably.

 

The last four totals for these two in games played at Golden State are 222, 208, 208, and 219. I not only like the Warriors here but for these two to slide right by Bovada's 203.  

 

My picks:  Golden State Warriors -3

                  San Antonio vs Golden State     over 203

 

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UPDATE:

 

Result ... San Antonio 102 Golden State 92     Spurs cover     total points = 194     under covers