The Cleveland Cavaliers are fighting to stay alive in the NBA Finals, and they have as good a shot as they can hope for, thanks to league officials who have ruled one of the true catalysts for the Golden State Warriors out for Game 5, which is scheduled to begin at 9 PM ET at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Without a key piece, can the Warriors close things out in front of the home fans? There could be shifting tides in this contest, and BetAnySports customers are going to have the opportunity to place wagers as the action is happening, as they test their skill against the basketball odds in real time through the magic of Live Betting Ultra.

An altercation late in Game 4 resulted in the suspension of Golden State forward Draymond Green, who apparently threw a punch to the groin of LeBron James. He had flagrant foul “points” built up and went over the limit with that one. So he is out, and that leaves the Warriors without their most versatile option. There is no doubt that coach Steve Kerr has a rotation at his disposal that brings a lot of flexibility, but there is no doubt that Green brings the “total package” to the table, which includes the ability to affect a game without even scoring a point. He has an impact at both ends of the floor, and is Golden State’s most effective rim protector.

In the NBA Finals betting line posted on this game by the people at BetAnySports, the Warriors are laying points:

Golden State Warriors -5.5

Cleveland Cavaliers +5.5

Over 204.5 points -110

Under 204.5 points -110

Without Green, the Warriors might have to get another productive night out of the Splash Brothers. Neither Steph Curry nor Klay Thompson had 20 points in any of the first three games, but they got there and then some in Game 4. Curry had 38 points, including seven field goals from three-point range, and had a lot of critical free throws down the stretch. Thompson added 25 points.

The Golden State defense really stepped up in the final stanza, holding Cleveland scoreless for a 6-1/2-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. And they took away some of the Cavs’ best weaponry, holding them to 6-25 from three-point range. So Cleveland had to be able to attack the basket with ferocity. That was likely more difficult in Game 4 than it will be in this contest, since Green, who is a genuine rim protector, won’t be available. BetAnySports patrons will have to contemplate what the presence of Kevin Love (11 points, five rebounds in Game 4) with Tristan Thompson (22 offensive rebounds in the series) up front might have against what will likely be a smaller Golden State lineup.

Look for a lot of Andre Iguodala, who won last year’s NBA Finals MVP, and who has a plus/minus of +54 in this series. Cleveland’s challenge will be to slow down the outside shooting of the “Dubs,” who made just 36% of their two-point shots on Friday. But is Curry in a groove? Cleveland backers had better hope not.

The money line on the game has Golden State at -230, while the desperate Cavs are priced at +190 according to BetAnySports, which gives new customers a great free play bonus, as well as reduced juice on their NBA wagering. Live in-game betting is a huge thrill, and then there are a lot of ways to open up an account, including your Visa card, person-to-person transfers and the virtual currency of Bitcoin!