- Date & Location: Wednesday, June 8th at the TD Garden in Boston
- Time: 9:00 p.m ET
- How to Watch: ESPN/ABC
The NBA Finals are in full swing as the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors meet in Game 3 on Wednesday in Beantown. After a disappointing Game 1 loss, the Dubs bounced back with authority on Sunday, beating the C's by 19 points behind some very impressive play on both ends of the floor. The series now shifts back to Boston for Games 3 and 4.
The Warriors find themselves in the Finals after cruising through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Steve Kerr's squad soared past the Nuggets in just five games then also beat the second seed Grizzlies in just six games. In the conference finals, Golden State easily took care of the Dallas Mavericks, winning the series 4-1. This is their sixth time in the Finals in the last eight seasons.
The Celtics meanwhile have been arguably the best team in the Association since January. They ran through Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in Round One, pulling off a clean sweep. After that, it was a tough seven-game series against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks where Boston embarrassed Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. in the series clincher. The Eastern Conference Finals weren't easy either as the top-seeded Miami Heat pushed them to the absolute brink.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction for Game 3 between the Warriors and Celtics, make sure to check out our tips for betting on NBA games and how to bet on NBA Finals.
2022 NBA Finals Game 3 Warriors vs Celtics Odds
| Odds to win Game 3 of NBA Finals |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +135 | +135 | +130 | +155 | +140 |
| Boston Celtics | -160 | -155 | -155 | -153 | -160 |
Golden State Warriors Analysis
The Dubs needed to respond in a big way in Game 2 after blowing a lead in the series opener on home court. Needless to say, they did. Golden State moved to 5-0 this postseason after a loss with the 107-88 win as Steph Curry led the charge with a team-high 29 points. While there wasn't a lot of help for Curry, there were definitely some bright spots on the offensive end. Jordan Poole found his stroke, contributing 17 points, while Kevon Looney added 12 and grabbed seven rebounds.
For most of this contest, the Celtics and Warriors were going toe to toe. But for the second game in a row, the Dubs absolutely destroyed Boston in the third quarter, outscoring them 35-14. That helped them pull away for good and the C's could never really catch up. The area where Kerr's group thrived the most however was from the mistakes of their opponent. Golden State translated 18 turnovers into a whole 33 points. While Boston did play sloppy basketball, the Warriors did a tremendous job of locking down defensively and making the Jayson Tatum and Co. feel very uncomfortable, which resulted in numerous mistakes. Draymond Green is certainly to thank for a lot of it, showing his usual defensive tenacity. He also posted nine points, seven rebounds, and five dimes.
That being said, the supporting cast has to be a lot better around Steph. Klay Thompson had a mere 11 points and went a putrid 1 for 8 from three-point land. The sharpshooter has yet to find his scoring touch in these NBA Finals but it's only a matter of time until Klay does. He's been on this stage so many times before and flourished.
Boston Celtics Analysis
The Celtics were brilliant in Game 1 despite a brutal night from superstar Jayson Tatum. On Sunday, it was the exact opposite. The All-Star balled out for 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists while draining six of nine triples. However, the rest of the rotation, who thrived in the series opener, failed to deliver here. Only three scorers finished in double-figures and co-star Jaylen Brown compiled just 17 points. Most notably, Al Horford and Marcus Smart combined for an atrocious four points just days after a fantastic performance. Between the Dubs' stout defending and Boston just simply going cold, this was a forgettable night.
Although the C's shooting only 38% from the field certainly hurt, it was the turnovers that killed them. The Warriors are too good of a team to not capitalize on these mishaps and they did just that. Smart had five turnovers on his own while Tatum also coughed it up four times. Boston just seemed to be playing way too fast and it cost them. The third period continues to absolutely eviscerate them, too. The Celtics committed more turnovers (5) than field goals made in that quarter (4). They've now been outscored an embarrassing 73-38 in the third. Boston must come out after halftime with a lot more intensity and purpose because Golden State is just going to keep running over them if the opportunity is there.
On a more positive note though, just like the Dubs, Udoka's squad has won every single contest in the 2022 postseason after a defeat. Heading back home to the TD Garden, the atmosphere will be absolutely electrifying and everyone will be expecting them to bounce back.
Celtics vs Warriors final pick
There's not a chance Boston plays this badly again and I firmly believe the home crowd will play a crucial part in the outcome. I like the Celtics to take a 2-1 lead in this series with a crucial victory at the TD Garden.
Pick: Boston Celtics to win Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals over the Golden State Warriors
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