- Date & Location: Monday, June 13th at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California
- Time: 9:00 p.m ET
- How to Watch: ESPN/ABC
The NBA Finals proceed on Monday evening as the Boston Celtics visit the Golden State Warriors for a pivotal Game 5 in the Bay Area. The Dubs evened up the series at two games apiece on Friday evening with an impressive 107-97 win at the TD Garden as Stephen Curry led the charge with 43 points. Keep reading for the Celtics vs Warriors picks.
Boston, who was arguably the best team in the Association since January, finds themselves in the Finals after taking out the Nets, defending champion Bucks, and the Heat. Jayson Tatum and Co. swept Brooklyn in four games then went the full seven against Milwaukee and Miami, with the latter actually holding the No. 1 seed in the East heading into the postseason.
As for the Warriors, they were honestly never really tested in the playoffs until now. Golden State cruised past Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in Round One then got fortunate that Ja Morant sustained an injury in the conference semifinals as they ultimately took out the Grizzlies in six games. The West Finals were smooth sailing as well, beating Luka Doncic's Mavs in five.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction for Game 5 between the Celtics and Warriors, make sure to check out our tips for betting on NBA games and how to bet on NBA Finals.
2022 NBA Finals Game 5 Celtics vs Warriors Odds
| Odds to win Game 5 of NBA Finals |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +140 | +150 | +140 | +145 | +145 |
| Golden State Warriors | -165 | -170 | -170 | -165 | -170 |
Boston Celtics Betting Analysis
The Celtics had a prime opportunity to take a 3-1 stranglehold on Friday, but they failed to do so. But, it's not like Boston didn't have the chance to put the Dubs away. Ime Udoka's squad led for almost the entire contest until failing to close out strong in the fourth quarter. Following a Marcus Smart free throw at the 7:32 mark of the final period, the C's proceeded to score just six points the rest of the way. In fact, only one of their shots in that final seven-plus minutes came inside the paint as the Celtics strictly resorted to shooting the three. In fairness, Udoka's group did get some very clean looks but nothing was landing.
Tatum led his team with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, which certainly looks like a respectable stat line. That being said, the All-Star wasn't efficient by any means, going 8 for 23 from the field. He also coughed the rock up six times, which proved to be a serious problem for Boston. Tatum has yet to enjoy a breakout performance in the Finals. In total, the C's had 16 turnovers that Golden State translated into 19 points. Sure, the Warriors did play some stout defense, but a lot of these mistakes came down to sloppy play from the Eastern Conference champions.
The battle on the boards also proved to be a difference-maker. The Celtics lost the rebound battle 55-42 as the much smaller Dubs imposed their will inside. Between a lack of shot-making, careless mistakes, and lifeless play down low, this was not a great performance from Boston. On a more positive note though, they're still unbeaten in the playoffs after losing. Hopefully, that streak continues on Monday.
Golden State Warriors Betting Analysis
There were some timely contributions from several players on this Warriors roster, but it's impossible to not realize Steph Curry is essentially putting the team on his back and willing them to the finish line. The sharpshooter went off on Friday, scoring 21 of his 43 points from three-point land. He also dropped 14 in the third quarter alone as Golden State once again outplayed Boston in that period, the common storyline of the Finals. Three other scorers finished in double-figures as Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole combined for 49 points.
But, it was Wiggins who made the biggest impact alongside Steph. The former first overall pick used his length and big body to his advantage, putting up 17 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds. He certainly played a crucial part in the outcome. The Dubs also shot 35% from deep and 44% from the field in a rather solid performance from the entire group. However, Draymond Green struggled for the second game in a row, posting a line of two points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Kerr even took him out late in the fourth because of his poor play. The Warriors will need their vocal leader and tone-setter to bounce back in Game 5 back at home.
It's become very clear though that Steph's ability to take over is the X-factor for Golden State. He's now averaging 34.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in this series while shooting a blistering 49% from long range. The Celtics' defense hasn't come up with an answer to stop Curry and he'll be feeling even more comfortable back at the Chase Center for Game 5.
Celtics vs Warriors final pick
It's only a matter of time until Tatum balls out in a big way and I believe it will be on Monday. The Celtics are very resilient and definitely realize they let Game 4 slip out of their fingertips. Expect it to be a close contest, but Boston is going to move within one win of an NBA title.
Pick: Boston Celtics to beat Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of NBA Finals.
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