Boston (1-0) at Golden State (0-1)
When: Sunday, June 5th 2022
Where: Chase Center,
San Francisco, CA
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -4/215.5
Game 1 of the NBA Finals didn’t go the way of the home team on Thursday, so the Golden State Warriors look to regroup for Sunday’s Game 2. The Boston Celtics have been a dominant road team dating back to the regular season and that has continued through this entire postseason. The Warriors appeared to be in complete control of Game 1, taking a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter. However, Boston became the first team in Finals history to win by double-digits after trailing by double-digits entering the final quarter. Boston’s 120-108 win gives them homecourt advantage now no matter what happens on Sunday.
GET A $750 NBA WELCOME BONUS! (US CUSTOMERS ONLY)
The Celtics are now -180 favorites to win the series after entering Game 1 at +125. The Warriors have now dropped both home games against the C’s this season and are just 1-7 against Boston in the last eight meetings. Oddsmakers are thinking Golden State will bounce back and not lose two in a row at home, as they made them 4.5-point favorites for Game 2. The total, which has gone over in two of the three meetings this season, is set at 215.5 as of Saturday afternoon. The Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall, but have failed to cover in five of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents. Game 3 will be back in Boston on Wednesday.
Boston started their fourth quarter comeback on Thursday by nailing their first seven three-pointers and that completely turned the momentum to their side. They outscored Golden State 40-16 in the period. Al Horford was terrific, recording a team-high 26 points and six rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 24 points and seven board. Derrick White was also a big contributor with 21 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. Star Jayson Tatum struggled to 3-of-17 shooting and was held to just 12 points. On the bright side, Tatum delivered a game-high 13 assists and played well defensively.
Golden State put up a huge 38-point performance in the third quarter, before going cold in the fourth. It was the biggest blown lead in an NBA Finals game in 30 years and it was only the third loss in 24 Game 1’s during head coach Steve Kerr’s tenure. Steph Curry did his part with an NBA Finals record for three-pointers in a single quarter with six in the first quarter on Thursday. Curry finished the night with a game-high 34 points. Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points and was mainly responsible for Tatum’s bad night shooting. Draymond Green added 11 rebounds, but struggled shooting from the field, going 2-of-12 and finishing the game with only four points.
GET A $750 NBA WELCOME BONUS! (US CUSTOMERS ONLY)
The public is all over Golden State in this Game 2, thinking they won’t lose two in a row. Well, they could very well win, but Boston is still getting 4.5 points and you can’t ignore their road record. One more win on the road and they tie an NBA postseason record. I’ll take the points.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
Pick: Celtics +4.5
