Trends to Watch – Game 1

NBA Finals Betting Trends - Game 1

-- The home team has gone 18-3 straight up in Game 1 of the last 20 NBA Finals.

-- Eleven of the last 14 victories have come by double digits.

-- The ‘under’ has gone 10-3-1 in the last 14 openers and is 14-6-1 in the previous 20.

-- In the last 21 years, we've only seen both teams score triple digits twice in Game 1 and both of those games went to overtime.

-- Golden State has gone 3-0 both straight up and against the spread in this year's playoffs, winning by an average of 18.7 points per game.

-- The Warriors are 8-1 SU and 5-4 ATS at home in the playoffs. 

-- Cleveland is 1-2 both SU and ATS in Game 1’s this postseason and this will be their second opener of the series on the road.

-- Overall, Cleveland has gone 4-5 both SU and ATS on the road in this year's playoffs.

Listed below are the past 21 openers in the NBA Finals, with total results.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals (1997-2017)
Year Matchup Total
2017 Golden State 113 vs. Cleveland 91 Under (225)
2016 Golden State 104 vs. Cleveland 89 Under (211)
2015 Golden State 108 vs. Cleveland 100 (OT) Over (203.5)
2014 San Antonio 110 vs. Miami 95 Over (198.5)
2013 Miami 88 vs. San Antonio 92 Under (190)
2012 Oklahoma City 105 vs. Miami 94 Over (195.5)
2011 Miami 92 vs. Dallas 84 Under (188)
2010 L.A. Lakers 102 vs. Boston 89 Push (191)
2009 L.A. Lakers 100 vs. Orlando 75 Under (205.5)
2008 Boston 98 vs. L.A. Lakers 88 Under (191.5)
2007 San Antonio 85 vs. Cleveland 76 Under (179.5)
2006 Dallas 90 vs. Miami 80 Under (194)
2005 San Antonio 84 vs. Detroit 69 Under (176)
2004 L.A. Lakers 75 vs. Detroit 87 Under (171)
2003 San Antonio 101 vs. New Jersey 89 Over (187)
2002 L.A. Lakers 99 vs. New Jersey 94 Over (191)
2001 L.A. Lakers 101 vs. Philadelphia 107 (OT) Over (191)
2000 L.A. Lakers 104 vs. Indiana 87 Under (194)
1999 San Antonio 89 vs. New York 77 Under (172)
1998 Utah 88 vs. Chicago 85 (OT) Under (186)
1997 Chicago 84 vs. Utah 82 Under (190.5)