The NBA Finals might just become a very good series by Friday night’s end. Covers talks in regards to the Game 4 matchup with Jeff Stoneback, sportsbook manager on the Mirage at the Las Vegas Strip, and John Lester, senior lines manager for online site Bookmaker.eu.Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers – Open: Cavaliers -1.5; Move: Cavaliers -2

Cleveland took a drubbing in Games 1 and 2, losing by a combined 48 points to fall right into a must-win situation in Wednesday’s Game 3. Then it was the Cavaliers who did the drubbing in a 120-90 victory as a 1.5-point home favorite, with LeBron James netting 32 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. That victory apparently has bettors back at the Cavs’ side for the moment.

“We’ve got about four times as much money at the Cavaliers as we do at the Warriors,” Stoneback said. “And we've got twice as many tickets at the Cavs. We went to -2 Thursday afternoon. It was just an accumulation of individuals betting at the Cavs.”

That said, Stoneback doesn’t foresee the move to twenty-five. just yet, though some off-shores – including Pinnacle – have made that jump.

“We haven’t had any really large wagers on all sides yet,” he said. “In my opinion, I BELIEVE we’ll take some Warriors money towards game time.”

Bookmaker opened the Cavs a tick higher at -2, where the road has stayed.

“Thus far, Game 4 has produced the smallest amount of action of any game within the NBA Finals,” Lester said. “The sharps that showed as much as back the Cavs in Game 3 haven't pop out for this one yet, they usually probably won't. Early action from most people was on Golden State, but we have seen some money on Cleveland since.

“It's really been good two-way action, as we have not moved off the opener of -2, and now we have almost 60 percent of the tickets at the home team.”

The Mirage opened the entire at 205.5 but by Thursday afternoon moved it to 206.5, that is where it opened and has stayed at Bookmaker.

“We’re getting equal action at 206.5,” Stoneback said. “It looks as if that’s the number.”

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

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