NBA Finals 2022 Warriors vs Celtics, Prediction, Game Preview
The 2022 NBA Finals will feature Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
2022 NBA Finals Schedule
Game 1:
- Date: Thursday, June 2nd
- Time: 9:00PM ET
- Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Game 2:
- Date: Sunday, June 5th
- Time: 8:00PM ET
- Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Game 3:
- Date: Wednesday, June 8th
- Time: 9:00PM ET
- Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Game 4:
- Date: Friday, June 10th
- Time: 9:00PM ET
- Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Game 5 (if necessary):
- Date: Monday, June 13th
- Time: 9:00PM ET
- Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Game 6 (if necessary):
- Date: Thursday, June 16th
- Time: 9:00PM ET
- Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Game 7 (if necessary):
- Date: Sunday, June 19th
- Time: 8:00PM ET
- Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
SportsRec Prediction
Golden State Warriors 4, Boston Celtics 3
The young Celtics have the talent to win the Finals, but the Warriors depth and experience will prove to be too much when all is said and done.
Regular Season Matchups
The Celtics and the Warriors met twice in the 2021-22 regular season, splitting the series at one win a piece. The Warriors' victory came in mid-December and the Celtics' came in mid-March, with the away team getting the win in each game.
December 17, 2021: Golden State Warriors 111, Boston Celtics 107
Fresh off of becoming the leading three-point shooter in NBA history, Stephen Curry poured in 30 points to lead the Warriors to a win on the road in the TD Garden against the shorthanded Celtics, who placed five players into the league's health and safety protocols in the 24 hours prior to the game. Jayson Tatum scored 27 and Jaylen Brown added 20 for the Celtics, but a one-handed scoop shot from Curry in the final minute proved to be the difference in the contest.
March 16, 2022: Boston Celtics 110, Golden State Warriors 88
The main storyline from this game was a foot injury to Stephen Curry that occurred late in the first half on a play where Celtics guard Marcus Smart appeared to dive for a ball and land on the two-time MVP's leg. The injury, a bone bruise and sprained ligament in his left foot, would end up keeping Curry out until the Warriors' first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.
Jayson Tatum lead the Celtics with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 26 points and Marcus Smart wound up with 20 and eight assists. On the other side, Jordan Poole finished the game with 29 points, but it was far from enough as the Warriors dropped their fourth straight game at the Chase Center.
Warriors vs Celtics History
According to LandofBasketball.com, the Warriors and Celtics have faced off 346 times in the regular season, with the Celtics leading the all-time series 208-138.
Throughout their history, the two teams have played each other 4 times in the NBA Playoffs, with one series being the 1964 NBA Finals that the Celtics won by a score of 4-1. Overall, the Celtics have an all-time record of 16-7 against the Warriors in the playoffs, winning each of the series that they have played against one another.
In their history, the Celtics have won seventeen NBA Championships, the most recent in 2008. The Warriors have won a total of five NBA Championships, the most recent being in 2018.
FiveThirtyEight Predictions
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, the Boston Celtics have a significantly better chance of winning the NBA Finals.
Chances of winning the 2022 NBA Finals:
- Boston Celtics: 80%
- Golden State Warriors: 20%
2022 NBA Finals Outright Betting
Outright Champion
- Golden State Warriors (-160)
- Boston Celtics (+135)
Finals MVP
- Stephen Curry (-115)
- Jayson Tatum (+175)
- Jaylen Brown (+1100)
- Klay Thompson (+2200)
2022 NBA Finals Player Props
Highest Points Per Game Average
- Jayson Tatum (-110)
- Stephen Curry (+130)
- Jaylen Brown (+650)
- Klay Thompson (+3400)
Highest Rebounds Per Game Average
- Kevon Looney (+130)
- Al Horford (+185)
- Draymond Green (+750)
- Jayson Tatum (+900)
Highest Assists Per Game Average
- Draymond Green (+170)
- Marcus Smart (+220)
- Stephen Curry (+250)
- Jayson Tatum (+650)
Individual Point Totals
- Stephen Curry O/U 27.5
- Klay Thompson O/U 20.5
- Jaylen Brown O/U 24.5
- Jayson Tatum O/U 28.5
Last 10 NBA Finals
2021: Milwaukee Bucks 4, Phoenix Suns 2
2020: Los Angeles Lakers 4, Miami Heat 2
2019: Toronto Raptors 4, Golden State Warriors 2
2018: Golden State Warriors 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 0
2017: Golden State Warriors 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 1
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers 4, Golden State Warriors 3
2015: Golden State Warriors 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 2
2014: San Antonio Spurs 4, Miami Heat 1
2013: Miami Heat 4, San Antonio Spurs 3
2012: Miami Heat 4, Oklahoma City Thunder 1
Lowest Seed to Win NBA Finals?
In 1994-95, the Houston Rockets won the NBA Finals as the 6th seed, defeating the Utah Jazz.
How Much does Home Court Advantage have in NBA Finals?
According to NBCSports.com, 53 of the 74 teams with home-court advantage in the NBA Finals went on to win the series. Home teams won Game 1 of the Finals 77% of the time.
What is the NBA Finals trophy name?
Since 1984, the championship trophy has been called the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.