Celtics vs. Warriors Game 1 odds and best bet: Finally, the battle is on

After way too much waiting, here comes Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Boston earned its spot by beating the Miami Heat in seven games, while Golden State has been resting a little while longer after beating the Dallas Mavericks in five.

You are probably very comfortable with these Warriors, as this is their 6th trip to the Finals in the last eight years. Guys like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are very familiar, but the Warriors also rely significantly on the likes of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, two very versatile players. 

Boston has burgeoning stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, plus mercurial Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. This group has never advanced this far in the playoffs, though, and the NBA is notorious for forcing teams to knock on the door a little before a breakthrough. 

Golden State is the favorite to win the series and the favorite to win the opener at home. These teams met twice during the regular season, each winning a game on the other's home floor. It has been more than a couple of months since they last played, though. 

I am looking forward to Game 1 and whether we see anything new from either side. The odds look pretty reasonable.

Game Info

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors
Thursday, June 2, 2022
9:00 p.m. ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, California
ABC

Betting Odds

Spread: Celtics +3.5 (-110), Warriors -3.5 (-110)
Total: 211.5
Moneyline: Celtics +140, Warriors -160

Best Bet

Golden State -3.5

I think the Warriors are going to win the series pretty comfortably, but I am not expecting a lot of blowouts. 

Game 1 might come down to coaching and in that department, the Warriors definitely have the edge. It's not that Boston is not strong there, but just like on the court, the Warriors have an edge of experience on the bench.

Also not to be underestimated is the depth that Golden State has. With the time off between the last series and the Finals, it now looks like the Warriors have a good chance of having Gary Payton II, Otto Porter and Andre Iguodala available for Game 1. How much of an impact they make remains to be seen, but those are all players who can make it difficult for the Celtics' best scorers.

In Game 1, I am looking for Boston to have some success in limiting the impact of Curry as a scorer. Smart can be that good and he is very willing to chase Curry around, which is key. Nobody runs as much as Steph.

However, a strength of this Warriors team is that they have guys who can not just score but also assume that lead gunner role when the time is right. Klay has shown flashes in the playoffs and Poole had 10 games this season where he scored 30+ points. He is capable of taking on more of a scoring role if need be. Wiggins is, too, and the attention Steph commands helps.

Golden State wins the opener with a show of depth that Boston really can't match. The Celtics get some support from the likes of Grant Williams and Derrick White, but those guys can't be truly counted on to score the way that the Warriors' bench can. Golden State is underrated defensively. 

Both of these teams are strong on defense and it might come down to which can do the most with their 4th and 5th options on the court. Golden State can win there, enough to get the Game 1 win and take early control of the series. 

It should be a very entertaining series. 

Score Prediction: Golden State 107 - Boston 100