The Kentucky Derby is dominating the sports headlines today, however the NBA Playoffs roll on with two big games, in addition. Covers talks to Chris Andrews, director of the South Point sportsbook in Las Vegas, along side oddsmakers at online sites Bookmaker.eu and BetNow, about those contests.

Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers – Open: Warriors -3; Move: Warriors -3.5

Golden State won and covered in Games 1 and a pair of of this best-of-7 Western Conference semifinal series, taking Sunday’s opener 118-106 as a 9.5-point home favorite and Tuesday’s second game 110-99 laying 9 points at home. Portland might be eager to climb back into this series, however the line isn’t going the Blazers’ way for tonight’s 8:30 Eastern tipoff.

“We opened Warriors -3,” Andrews said, adding that once it was announced that Stephen Curry would still not be back in action for Game 3, he expected the road to tighten. “I really thought this may visit 2 or 2.5. Instead, it’s up. It’s at 3.5 now.

“Bettors are still playing the soldiers, even without Curry.”

Bookmaker opened the Warriors somewhat higher from the get-go, at -4, then came all the way down to -3.

“As was the case inside the playoffs, some of the public wagers are on Golden State,” said John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker. “But the wiseguys interested in Game 3 are taking a shot with the house ‘dog.”

Said an oddsmaker for BetNow: “Before it was announced that Curry is not going to play in Game 3, the action was all Golden State. After the announcement, the road hasn’t changed and can not really accomplish that until we catch up with to game time.”

Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat – Open: Heat -5; Move: Heat -5.5

Games 1 and a pair of in Toronto went to overtime, and though the teams split SU victories, Miami cashed in both outings. In Game 1

Tuesday, the warmth emerged with a 102-96 win catching 4 points, and in Game 2 Thursday, Toronto won 96-92 but fell short as 5-point chalk.

With the warmth returning home for a 5 p.m. Eastern tipoff, Andrews said bettors are lining up behind them.

“The line is just about 5.5 almost everywhere. They’re laying the 5.5 somewhat bit,” he said, while noting the full has also seen movement. “They’re betting the under. We opened at 187.5, and we’re right down to 185.5.”

BetNow’s oddsmaker said that, previous to this morning, his shop were seeing the other at the total.

“The biggest trend that we're noticing is that bettors are pouring action almost overwhelmingly at the over,” he said.

At Bookmaker, the road opened lower at Miami -4, but like everywhere else moved to 5.5.

“We haven't seen much of a position from the sharps on this one, however the squares like Miami an even bit,” Lester said.

Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers-Vegas.

Read More... [Source: Covers.com: NBA News and Stories]