The Golden State Warriors host the Boston Celtics at the Chase Center Thursday for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we list the best value prop bets from Tipico Sportsbook‘s 2022 NBA Finals Game 1 odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Warriors have had a few days off after completing the gentleman’s sweep over the G Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. They took down MVP C Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the first round and then Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies in the second.
This is Golden State’s 6th NBA Finals appearance in 8 years. It’ll be aiming for its 4th NBA Championship, having lost 2 of the previous 5 to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and the Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors.
The Celtics had to go through F Kevin Durant and G Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and then two-time MVP F Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks before downing the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat.
Both the Celtics series with the Bucks and their Eastern Conference Finals battle with the Heat went 7 games with their most recent Game 7 win coming last Sunday.
NBA Finals prop bets for Game 1
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:35 p.m. ET.
Celtics SF Jayson Tatum points: UNDER 28.5 (-120)
Jayson Tatum is coming into this game following less-than-ideal performances against the Heat. He averaged just 25 points per game and shot 46% from the field. Tatum also averaged 4.7 turnovers per game.
The Warriors might not force turnovers like Miami, but they have a top-2 defense and will be able to hound Tatum with a rested F Andrew Wiggins who played well against Luka Doncic.
Tatum has missed this mark in 4 of his last 6 and has scored below this number in both of the Celtics’ 2 matchups with the Warriors this season. I’d confidently take the under here.
Warriors SF Andrew Wiggins 3-pointers made: OVER 1.5 (-102)
Wiggins has been one of the bright spots of the postseason for Golden State, and he’s certainly getting his work in from behind the arc. Wiggins shot 28 triples in 5 games against Dallas.
He shot 39.3% from deep during the regular season and hit 2.2 triples per game.
Wiggins has hit 2 or more triples in 3 of his last 6 and has shot 5 or more triples in 5 of his last 6. Those 2 numbers, along with him getting an easier matchup with Tatum, should help propel him to hit at least a couple of threes.
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Warriors PF Draymond Green points: UNDER 8.5 (-122)
Draymond Green was more aggressive against the Mavericks because of their lack of size.
The Warriors often having a sizable lead helped as well. He averaged 10.6 points per game in that series. That’s not the typical average as he had 7 or more points just once in their 6-game series against Memphis.
Boston has the best defense in the league, and Robert Williams is going to have control of the paint, along with Horford. Green’s scoring will be one of the several that take a hit against Boston.
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Celtics SF Jayson Tatum 3-pointers made: UNDER 3.5 (-115)
We’re back to talk about Tatum more. While Tatum is a volume 3-point shooter, he hasn’t been good enough this season to warrant the total being set at 3.5.
Now, he has hit 4 or more threes in half the playoffs games for Boston. In 6 of those 9 games, Tatum shot over 50% from deep. He shot 35.3% from deep on the season and shoots under 40%.
Regression is due for Tatum, and when he’s shot under 44% from deep, which his career and season average suggested he typically does, he’s hit 4 triples just once this postseason.
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