The Golden State Warriors will try to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole when they face the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals on Friday night. Boston bounced back from a loss in Game 2 with a 116-110 win at home on Wednesday. The Celtics held Golden State to 11 points in the fourth quarter, which were the third-fewest in an NBA Finals game during the shot clock era. Golden State expects to have Stephen Curry (foot, probable) in the lineup, while Boston lists Robert Williams III as questionable with his lingering knee issue.
Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as the four-point favorite in the latest Warriors vs. Celtics odds. The over-under for total points is set at 214. Before locking in any Celtics vs. Warriors picks, be sure to see the NBA Finals 2022 predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the 2022 NBA Finals on a stunning 88-60 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in its Warriors vs. Celtics picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Celtics vs. Warriors:
- Warriors vs. Celtics spread: Boston -4
- Warriors vs. Celtics over-under: 214 points
- Warriors vs. Celtics money line: Golden State +145, Boston -170
- Warriors vs. Celtics tickets: See tickets at StubHub
- BOS: Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four Thursday games
- GS: Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as favorites
Why the Celtics can cover
Outside of Golden State's explosion in the third quarter of Game 2, Boston has been the clearly superior team in this series. The Celtics have had too much balance and depth for a top-heavy Golden State roster to deal with, especially when Klay Thompson has not been at his best for most of the series. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart each scored 24-plus points in Game 3, while Grant Williams chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Curry came up hobbled after diving for a loose ball late in Wednesday night's game. He is expected to play on Friday night, but it is certainly another factor working against the Warriors in Game 4. They have not been able to handle a physical Boston team that held a 47-31 rebounding advantage on Wednesday, so the Celtics are poised to take a commanding lead in the series.
Why the Warriors can cover
Golden State's offense is potent and can be dynamic. Throughout the postseason the Warriors have been able to consistently produce offensively, ranking first in scoring (113) and second in 3-point percentage (38.3), while shooting 48 percent from the floor. They have scored 120-plus in six games during the 2022 NBA playoffs. Curry is a big reason for Golden State's explosive offense. He is a knockdown shooter from anywhere on the floor.
Forward Andrew Wiggins is an athletic player in the frontcourt. The Kansas product has played good defense on Tatum throughout this series, forcing him to work hard on every possession. Wiggins can also get a bucket at all three levels with his smooth jumper. He's averaging 16.3 points, six rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steal per game during the NBA Finals 2022.
How to make Celtics vs. Warriors picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 212 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get that NBA Finals pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Warriors vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits in over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
