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NBA Finals Odds After Game 1 – Celtics Move To Favorites After Furious 4th-Quarter Buries Warriors

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball

Updated Jun 2, 2022 · 9:18 PM PDT

Al Horford fist pump
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) reacts after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of game one of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Boston Celtics finish in a flurry to beat the Golden State Warriors, taking Game 1 of the NBA Finals 
  • With odds as long as +200 prior to Game 1, the Celtics are now betting favorites at -180 odds
  • We look at the updated Finals odds below and share our best betting advice

The Boston Celtics aren’t playing.

A team with zero NBA Finals experience, the C’s withstood every shot the championship-savvy Golden State Warriors threw, and they used the fourth quarter to fire their own haymaker.

The result: an impressive 120-108 Game 1 win, and a sudden shift in the NBA Championship odds.

2022 NBA Finals Series Odds

Team Odds
Boston Celtics -180
Golden State Warriors +150

Odds as of June 2 at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Warriors opened as -160 series favorites, and extended to as many as -230 leading up to Game 1. Now? The Celtics have moved from +200 underdogs to -180 favorites.

As we prepare for Game 2 on Sunday (June 5), let’s look at what the best bet currently is.

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Celtics Finish Game 1 in Flurry

The Golden State Warriors — who had a total of 123 games of Finals experience heading into Game 1 — did what they usually do, using the third quarter to separate themselves from the Celtics. A 38-24 advantage gave them a 12-point lead heading into the final frame.

Boston didn’t flinch, though, putting together an incredible fourth quarter, outscoring the Dubs 40-16 to hand GState their first home loss of the playoffs, while improving to an impressive 8-2 on the road in the postseason.

Al Horford, playing his first career title series, led the Celtics with 26 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. He drilled 6-for-8 from downtown. Derrick White came off the bench to pour in 21 of his own, including a 5-for-8 mark from three-point range.

Jaylen Brown was Boston’s third 20+ point scorer, finishing with 24 points, seven boards and five assists. Jayson Tatum struggled mightily from the field, going 3-for-17 for 12 points, but he did facilitate well, doling out a game-high 13 dimes.

The game featured a ton of high-level offense, including the best-shooting game in Finals history. The two teams combined for 40 three-point makes, with Boston going 21-for-41 (51.2%) and the Warriors shooting 19-for-45 (42.2%).

Steph Curry led all scorers with 34 points and a game-high seven three-point hits, but he was far less effective after the first quarter, potting just 13 points and a three-pointer in the final 36 minutes.

Andrew Wiggins had 20 points, the only other Warrior to crack the 20-point plateau.

What’s the Best Bet?

Oddsmakers had no choice but to flip the gambling script after that performance. Consider that Curry dropped 21 points in the first quarter, with six three-point makes, and even with Tatum struggling, Boston not only stayed in range, but led 56-54 at halftime.

Boston’ depth shined through Thursday, with their nine-man rotation offering more versatility, continuous shooting, and switchable defense than the Warriors’ eight man group could match.

Jordan Poole, who’s been dynamite in the playoffs so far, could only muster nine points off the bench. Couple that with Draymond Green’s brutal 2-for-12 shooting performance, including an 0-for-4 mark from three and 0-for-3 from the free throw line, and Golden State’s roster looks a little thin if their entire lineup isn’t pulling their weight.

That being said, this is just one game, and there’s a ton of jockeying left to do in a series that has the potential to go the distance. If you hadn’t bet the Celtics at those extended odds prior to Game 1, there’s not a ton of current value left after their win.

However, now is a good chance to get some plus-odds on the Warriors, who should shift back to favorite status should they come back and take Game 2.

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