The 2022 NBA Finals start Thursday when the Golden State Warriors host the Boston Celtics for Game 1. Tip-off at Chase Center is set for 9 p.m. ET and the game airs on ABC.
Boston is appearing in its first NBA Finals since 2010 and the first of the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era. The Celtics eked past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals with a thrilling 100-96 win in Game 7.
This is Golden State’s 6th NBA Finals appearance in the last 8 seasons and the Warriors are hoping to win their 4th NBA title in the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green era under coach Steve Kerr. Golden State beat the Dallas Mavericks in a “gentleman’s sweep” (4-1) in the Western Conference Finals.
The road team won both Celtics-Warriors meetings this season but Boston was 1-0-1 against the spread (ATS) and the total is 1-1 Over/Under (O/U).
The Celtics are the only team with a winning record against the Warriors in Kerr’s 8-year stint as Golden State’s coach. Boston is 9-7 straight up (SU) and 12-3-1 ATS vs. Golden State since 2014-15.
Celtics at Warriors odds and lines
- Money line: Celtics +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Warriors -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Celtics +4.5 (-120) | Warriors -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Celtics at Warriors key injuries
Celtics
- PF Robert Williams III (knee) questionable
Warriors
- SF Andre Iguodala (back) questionable
- SG Gary Payton II (elbow) questionable
- SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) questionable
Celtics at Warriors picks and predictions
Prediction
Warriors 113, Celtics 105
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” to the Warriors (-175) because most of the market is betting Golden State’s spread so I’m nervous Game 1’s final margin could be inside the number.
However, I expect the Warriors to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of this series because they get much better looks than the Celtics. Golden State has the 2nd-highest volume of layups for these playoffs whereas Boston has the 2nd-highest 3-point attempt rate.
The Celtics have settled for too many long, contested 2-pointers or 3-pointers while the Warriors exhaust all their options in possessions and get everyone on the floor involved.
If Golden State’s ML falls to -150 or lower then I’d take that instead of the Warriors laying points but PASS at this price.