The 2022 NBA Finals return to Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 5 between Boston and Golden State, so we have prepared the best Celtics vs. Warriors betting pick and tips along with the latest odds update on Bookmaker Sportsbook. 

The Warriors open as 3.5-point home favorites with a total of 212.5 points, while the Celtics are listed as +140 moneyline underdogs. Both teams have gone 2-2 SU and ATS through the first four games of the series.  

The Celtics have to stop Stephen Curry   

The Boston Celtics blew a huge opportunity to take a commanding lead in the 2022 NBA Finals. They suffered a 107-97 defeat in Game 4 on the home court, scoring only 43 points in the second half. The Celtics had a five-point lead at halftime but couldn’t cope with the Warriors’ defense since the break. 

Boston went 15-for-38 from beyond the 3-point line (39.5%) but shot only 40.0% from the field while tallying just 32 points in the paint. Jayson Tatum had 23 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, but he also turned the ball over six times, while Jaylen Brown added 21 points and six boards. 

Furthermore, the Celtics allowed Stephen Curry to beat them on his own. If they want to win the championship, the Celtics will have to play much better defense on Curry and try to attack the rim way more than they did in Game 4. 

The Warriors bounced back from a heavy loss in Game 3         

The Golden State Warriors played lousy defense in Game 3 at TD Garden in Boston. They suffered a 116-100 defeat, allowing 52 points in the paint and scoring only 26 in a return. The Dubs did a much better defensive job last Friday, while Stephen Curry was unstoppable on the other side of the ball. 

Curry dropped 43 points on the Celtics in Game 4. He shot 14-for-26 from the field and 7-for-14 from beyond the 3-point line. Andrew Wiggins was an X-factor with a 17-point, 16-rebound double-double, finishing with a terrific plus-20 net rating in 43 minutes on the floor, while Klay Thompson added 18 points and a couple of blocks. 

Wiggins played excellent defense on Jayson Tatum in the second half. Draymond Green scored only two points to go with nine boards, eight assists, and four steals, while Kevon Looney had six points, 11 rebounds, and a plus-21 net rating. 

Trends:

Boston:

  • N/A  

Golden State:

  • 7-3 ATS in the last ten games overall 
  • 5-1 ATS in the last six outings as favorites     

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Pick 

I was expecting a much closer Game 4, but the Celtics fell apart in the fourth quarter, just like the Warriors did in Game 1. The 2022 NBA Finals have been pretty unpredictable thus far, as both teams have had a lot of ups and downs. 

The Celtics should be ready to play much better D on Stephen Curry, who’ll need more help from his teammates. The Warriors should stay aggressive on the defensive end and force Jayson Tatum into tough shots and bad decisions. This one could easily go either way, and I lean the Warriors because of the home-court advantage. 

Pick: Take Golden State Warriors -3.5 at -110   

The Total:

The under is 13-4 in the previous 17 meetings between the Celtics and Warriors and 2-2 in this series. The teams have averaged 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes over their previous four encounters, so I would ride the H2H betting trend and take the under on the totals. 

Both Boston and Golden State have to take good care of the ball and be patient while looking for the best shot possible. Their defense could decide the winner, and forcing an up-tempo basketball won’t help anyone. 

Pick: Go under 212.5 points at -110