In what should be an action-packed conclusion to the NBA Playoffs, this year’s edition of the Finals features two teams coming off vastly different outcomes in the Conference Finals. From the Western Conference, the Warriors were able to dismantle the outgunned Mavericks in five games and looked like their mid-2010’s selves on a nightly basis. Meanwhile the Celtics had their limits tested with a dramatic Game 7 win over the Miami Heat on the road in the Eastern Conference. With both squads bringing a lot to the table, this should be an epic matchup if both teams are playing at their best.
As always, SBS has you covered with a game preview, breakdown and prediction for who will win Game 1 in the NBA Finals.
Coming off a thrilling Game 7 win against the Heat in South Beach, the Celtics are showing they have a ton of grit. Led by star forward Jayson Tatum’s 26 points, Boston was able to outlast Miami, 100-96. With Heat forward Jimmy Butler’s final three-point chance falling short at the end of regulation, it was clear that even if the game went to overtime, the spry Celtics would still have the edge. Thanks to perhaps the best starting lineup in the league, Boston was able to keep Miami at arm’s length most of the contest, until the final moments. That said, the Celtics showed they are capable of winning when it counts most.
In addition to Tatum’s 26, Boston saw some inspiring performances from their backcourt duo of Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown who both had 24 points. However, it was veteran center Al Horford who proved to be the linchpin for Boston in Game 7 with a game-leading 14 rebounds. The Florida product played an inspiring 44 minutes and even though he struggled from the field (only making two field goals), he still put together a +10 plus/minus mark. After winning twice against Miaimi on the road, the Celtics have shown they can win against the league’s best away from the friendly confines of their home floor.
Like it was 2015 all over again, the Warriors are led by their fantastic trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Curry has been especially spectacular this postseason with a scoring average of nearly 26 points per contest (25.9). Thanks to his superior marksmanship and the Warriors’ championship pedigree, Golden State has found itself back in the Finals for the first time this decade after they dominated the latter half of the 2010’s. His running mate Thompson has been fantastic at times as well. After being bogged down with injuries the last couple of seasons, the Washington State product has provided some dependable and consistent scoring for Golden State (19.8 points per game in the postseason).
However, the Warriors defense starts and ends with power forward Draymond Green. One of the most versatile and intelligent players in the league, Green leads the Warriors in assists this postseason (6.3 per game) and also has solid metrics in points and rebounds. While their star trio has garnered most of the headlines, Golden State has seen some powerful performances from younger players like Jordan Poole (15.96 player efficiency rating) and Andrew Wiggins (12.98 PER in the postseason). Head coach Steve Kerr seems to be pushing all the right buttons by finding new ways to win. However, the question here will be if the aging Warriors will be rested (and not rusted) enough for the cagey Celtics.
Prediction: With these squads splitting their matchups in the regular season at one win apiece, Game 1 should make for an interesting showdown. That in mind, the Warriors are much more rested than the battle-tested Celtics and play incredibly well in the Bay Area which should give them the Game 1 edge.
With the NBA Finals here, you definitely do not want to miss any of this climatic championship series. For more basketball information, SBS has you covered with our comprehensive NBA wagering guide. On this page you can find all kinds of fantastic information like the best welcome bonuses available and the latest basketball action going on right now. On the topic of the former, you should definitely check out the SBS welcome bonus offers breakdown to find more ways to get the biggest bang for your buck. Finally, if you are perhaps uncertain on how to make payments on your wagers, don’t worry as our overview on payment options has you covered.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
