Las Vegas Seeing the Stephen Curry Effect Following Star’s Ankle Injury

LAS VEGAS—Last summer, after a rigorous practice during the U.S. Men’s National Team’s mini-camp at Mendenhall Center on the campus of UNLV, Stephen Curry told reporters he enjoys the camaraderie of his all-star teammates, and loves working out with the world’s best players when he visits the entertainment capital each summer with Team USA.

He added that he’s never been intrigued by the gambling world.

But the gambling world is most certainly intrigued by Curry and his presence—or absence—on the basketball court.

Such was the case in Game 2 of the Western Conference opening-round series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.

Golden State, which laid -13 and won the series-opener by 26, opened a 13-point favorite in the second game. But when Curry cut his warmup routine short prior to Monday’s contest, favoring a tender ankle, and it was announced he wouldn’t play, the line was readjusted to 8.5.

The Warriors scored a 115-106 victory over the Rockets, covering the closing line.

“It was one of those games where the star player was questionable, and you can read between the lines and see what is going to happen. We didn’t get hurt on that,” said Jay Kornegay, vice president of race and sports at the Westgate Las Vegas. “I think there were some people who took the points at +13, but then came back at -8.5. It was so minimal, though.”

Those who middled the game (by hitting the Rockets at +13 and the Warriors at -8.5, and cashing when the final margin landed on nine points) certainly didn’t plan to when first making their wagers on Houston. The advantageous moment came about when the number was readjusted five points lower and minimal bettors took a shot by laying the chalk with Golden State.

“Just like any player, you’re going to have an influence on the line,” Kornegay said. “The star player is always going to influence the line. We know what the betting public is going to do. (The movement) is geared toward the sharper player. The public is going to play the Warriors all they want.”

He doesn’t see any difference between the Warriors and the NFL’s public favorites: the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos. In other words, any team that’s winning.

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