Monday 27 May 2019 13:06, UK
The Golden State Warriors are favoured in the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive year, as they prepare to take on Toronto Raptors.
Most sportsbooks had the Warriors around -300 to win the series, meaning a $300 (£236) bet would win $100 (£79), while the Raptors were offered by several outlets at +250 - meaning a $100 bet would win $250 (£197).
The Raptors are therefore the second largest underdogs in the past eight NBA Finals after the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017/18.
The Warriors, who are seeking their third straight title and fourth in five years, were already installed as favourites before their Finals opponent was known.
The Raptors rallied past the Bucks in Game 6 on Saturday night for their fourth straight win, claiming the best-of-seven series 4-2 to reach the first NBA Finals in franchise history.
They have home-court advantage in the series, which begins Thursday, though most sportsbooks have Toronto between a 1-point favourite and a 1-point underdog at home in Game 1.
Despite the odds literally being against them, Raptors big man Serge Ibaka insists the team is full of belief.
"We are very hungry," he said. "They have a lot of experience but we are going to go for them and fight."
The Warriors have won six straight games, including five without key man Kevin Durant, who strained his calf on May 8 and is not expected to be ready for the start of the Finals.
The team is hopeful he can return during the series, while center DeMarcus Cousins could also return from a torn quad muscle.
Golden State last played on May 20, meaning they will have five more days of rest than Toronto will get.
The Raptors went 2-0 against the Warriors this season, winning 131-128 in overtime at home on November 29 and 113-93 in Oakland, on December 12.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals takes place in Toronto in the early hours of Friday morning (2am) live on Sky Sports Arena.
