- Date & Location: Thursday, June 16th at the TD Garden in Boston
- Time: 9:00 p.m ET
- How to Watch: ESPN/ABC
The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics are back at it in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, with tip-off scheduled for 9 PM ET. The Dubs are now just one win away from a title after an impressive Game 5 win on Monday at home, with Andrew Wiggins leading the way for his squad.
Golden State finds itself at this point after cruising through the first three rounds of the playoffs. They beat the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Mavericks along the way, losing just four games prior to the Finals. If they can win it all, it will be their fourth championship since 2015 after a two-year hiatus from the postseason.
As for the C's, they took out some of the East's best teams en route to the big stage. Jayson Tatum and Co. embarrassed Kevin Durant's Nets in a four-game sweep, then eliminated the defending champion Bucks in the conference semifinals. Boston also sent the top-seeded Heat home after defeating them in seven games to take the Eastern Conference crown.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction for Game 6 between the Warriors and Celtics, make sure to check out our tips for betting on NBA games and how to bet on NBA Finals.
Warriors vs Celtics Game 6 Odds
| Odds to win Game 6 of NBA Finals |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +145 | +150 | +145 | +150 | +145 |
| Boston Celtics | -170 | -170 | -170 | -170 | -170 |
Warriors one win away from title
The Warriors showed up in a big way in Game 5, handing the Celtics back-to-back losses for the first time in these playoffs. But, surprisingly, it wasn't Stephen Curry who carried the Dubs to the finish line. The superstar only had 16 points and eight assists while going 0 for 9 from downtown, the first time since 2018 he's failed to drain a single triple in the playoffs. Andrew Wiggins proved to be the star of the show on Monday, posting a team-high 26 points and 13 rebounds. The best part is that Wiggins did all of his damage inside. He was getting downhill and attacking the hoop with authority while also making his presence felt on the boards.
Seeing how Golden State played in this game was very promising. Curry has been essentially doing all the offensive work but in Game 5, five different players finished in double-figures. Klay Thompson also had 21, while Gary Payton II and Jordan Poole also made an impact. You can't forget Draymond Green either, who bounced back with authority here following a pair of atrocious performances. He contributed eight points, eight rebounds, and six assists, displaying his usual defensive tenacity. The well-balanced attack should give Steve Kerr's squad lots of confidence heading back to Boston for a possible series-clinching Game 6.
Again, the Dubs fully capitalized off the Celtics' careless mistakes too, translating 18 turnovers into 22 points. They also outscored Boston 50-36 in the paint despite shooting just 22% from downtown. If Curry and Co. can all do their part like this again on Thursday night, this series will be done with.
Celtics on the brink
Boston really needed to respond here and unfortunately, it didn't happen. Between mistakes, dismal shooting, and lack of execution, the C's now have their backs up against the wall. They came out very slow in the first half, getting outscored 51-39. Although Ime Udoka's group did make a comeback early in the third to briefly take the lead, there wasn't enough consistency.
The Celtics went 0 for 12 at one point in the first half from long range before sinking eight treys in a row in the third period. However, they went cold again. Boston also missed far too many freebies, shooting 68% from the charity stripe. In a 104-94 loss, that made a massive difference. On a more positive note, Jayson Tatum enjoyed a respectable night, showing out for 27 points, 10 boards, and four dimes while shooting an efficient 50% from the field. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown also combined for 38 points.
Turnovers just keep hurting this team, though. The Dubs were fantastic defensively and kept getting hands in to throw Boston off their gameplan, but they also have themselves to blame for a lot of these mishaps. Brown had five turnovers alone while Smart and Tatum didn't do themselves any favors, either. At this point in the Finals, the Celtics must take much better care of the basketball. If not, Game 6 is going to end in heartbreak after such a phenomenal run in the postseason.
Warriors vs Celtics final pick
I was riding with the Celtics to win Game 5 because I truly believed they would come back with a vengeance and make a statement in the Bay Area. That simply didn't happen and the Warriors definitely have the momentum now, especially after winning a game with their best player being practically non-existent. Golden State is the best bet here to capture the title on the road in Game 6. At +145 odds, there's great value.
Pick: Golden State Warriors to beat the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of NBA Finals.
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