NBA Finals Game 3, Warriors vs Celtics Game Preview: Celtics Looking to Make Statement at Home
Celtics Return Home With Series Tied, Warriors Looking to Steal one in Bean Town
The Golden State Warriors face the Boston Celtics in Game Three on Wednesday and our Warriors vs Celtics game preview looks at the best bets.
The Celtics took first blood but it was the Warriors who bounced back and evened up the series at 1-1.
Bookmakers have the Celtics favored to win at TD Garden in what could be an epic showdown.
Warriors Ready for Battle
The Golden State Warriors returned to form in game two, winning with a score 107-88 and looking more like the Warriors of old and they picked apart the Boston Celtics.
Despite a sluggish start, they picked up steam in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half. They regained their identity, which included Draymond Green receiving a technical foul but not overreacting and turning it into an ejection, which he was close to doing later in the game.
Green is an important part of the Warriors’ success, so it was encouraging to see him get involved on both ends of the floor. Expect more of the same, especially with the Warriors facing a difficult road game on Wednesday.
“For me to sit back and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to push it to this edge and try to pull back,’ that don’t work,” Green told ESPN. “I’ve got to be me. So the first tech — it is what it is. That’s not going to stop me from being aggressive or doing what I do on the basketball court. Just got to live with the results.”
NBA Finals betting odds have the Warriors as +3½ underdogs. It’s a fair line because they’re playing on the road but finals experience can’t be overlooked.
The Warriors have plenty of experience in this situation, and they know they must win at least one game in Boston to capture the title. The pre-series favorite could win consecutive games and the Warriors vs Celtics game preview suggests they could.
Home Cooking for Celtics
Returning home could be enough for the Boston Celtics and they’re expected to win their home opener.
The Celtics are confident after posting a 28-13 record at TD Garden during the regular season, but a concerted effort is required following a disappointing loss in Chase Center.
Jayson Tatum has not been at his best and appears to be suffering from a shoulder injury, which he suffered when trying to get around a screen in Game One.
With his lack of offensive production costing the Celtics, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart must pick up the slack on the defensive end. They are elite defenders and they can give the Golden State Warriors a ton of problems.
“I think tonight, turnovers, and I think sometimes letting our offense affect how we defend, kind of was a little stagnant in the third quarter,” Brown said.
“I feel like it translated on the defensive end, and they got going and hitting shots and things like that.”
Golden State Warriors’ odds to win the title have taken a hit, so the Celtics could knuckle down and take a commanding 2-1 lead with home court advantage.
We think the current NBA betting line could move to -4½, so bettors should jump on the Celtics at the current line. They only need to play solid defense to beat the Warriors, who haven’t been at their offensive best.
Our Warriors vs Celtics game preview has looked at the defense of the Warriors and Celtics. We give the edge to the Celtics, who has the NBA’s defensive MVP, Marcus Smart and one of the best two-way players in the game with Jaylen Brown.
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