NBA Finals 2022: Breakdown & Prediction for Game 1 of Celtics vs. Warriors

Updated June 30, 2022
Updated June 30, 2022By Chris Boline
nba betting finals game 1

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. 

NBA Finals Game 1The PickBetOnlineBetUSGTBets
Golden State vs. BostonWarriors -3.5-105-105-105

Team Spotlight: The Boston Celtics

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. 

Team Spotlight: The Golden State Warriors

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

Warriors -3.5To win Game 1 of the NBA Finals vs. the Boston Celtics
-105
Bet Now

More information on placing your NBA Playoffs Wagers

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. 

1
Bovada-logo
BTC Accepted
50% bonus up to $1,000

Bonus

$ 1000
Play Now
2
BetOnline-logo
BTC Accepted
50% bonus up to $1000

Bonus

$ 1000
Play Now
3
BetUS-logo
BTC Accepted
125% up to $2,500

Bonus

$ 2500
Play Now
4
MyBookie-logo
BTC Accepted
100% bonus up to $1000

Bonus

$ 1000
Play Now
5
Xbet-logo
BTC Accepted

Bonus

$ 500
Play Now

About the Author

Chris Boline
Chris Boline

As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education

Read Chris's Profile

Ask Chris about this guide:

Email Twitter