The Golden State Warriors host the Boston Celtics at the Chase Center Thursday for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we list the best value prop bets from Tipico Sportsbook‘s 2022 NBA Finals Game 1 odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Warriors have had a few days off after completing the gentleman’s sweep over the G Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. They took down MVP C Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the first round and then Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies in the second.
This is Golden State’s 6th NBA Finals appearance in 8 years. It’ll be aiming for its 4th NBA Championship, having lost 2 of the previous 5 to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and the Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors.
The Celtics had to go through F Kevin Durant and G Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and then two-time MVP F Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks before downing the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat.
Both the Celtics series with the Bucks and their Eastern Conference Finals battle with the Heat went 7 games with their most recent Game 7 win coming last Sunday.
NBA Finals prop bets for Game 1
Celtics SF Jayson Tatum points: UNDER 28.5 (-120)
Jayson Tatum is coming into this game following less-than-ideal performances against the Heat. He averaged just 25 points per game and shot 46% from the field. Tatum also averaged 4.7 turnovers per game.
The Warriors might not force turnovers like Miami, but they have a top-2 defense and will be able to hound Tatum with a rested SF Andrew Wiggins, who played well against Doncic.
Tatum has missed this mark in 4 of his last 6 and has scored below this number in both of the Celtics’ 2 matchups with the Warriors this season. I’d confidently take the UNDER here.
Warriors SF Andrew Wiggins 3-pointers made: OVER 1.5 (-102)
Wiggins has been one of the bright spots of the postseason for Golden State, and he’s certainly getting his work in from behind the arc. Wiggins shot 28 triples in 5 games against Dallas.
He shot 39.3% from deep during the regular season and hit 2.2 triples per game.
Wiggins has hit 2 or more triples in 3 of his last 6 and has shot 5 or more triples in 5 of his last 6. Those 2 numbers, along with him getting an easier matchup with Tatum, should help propel him to hit at least a couple of 3’s.
Warriors PF Draymond Green points: UNDER 8.5 (-122)
Draymond Green was more aggressive against the Mavericks because of their lack of size.
The Warriors often having a sizable lead helped as well. He averaged 10.6 points per game in that series. That’s not the typical average as he had 7 or more points just once in their 6-game series against Memphis.
Boston has the best defense in the league, and C Robert Williams III is going to have control of the paint, along with C Al Horford. Green’s scoring will be one of the several that take a hit against Boston.