The Boston Celtics return to the T.D. Garden for Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals Wednesday night with homecourt advantage still intact despite a 107-88 loss to the Golden State Warriors Sunday night in a series-shifting clash.
2022’s NBA Finals started off in ideal fashion for the Cs, with a fourth-quarter comeback that showed Ime Udoka’s ability to adapt over a several-minute span. Now, he’ll have to show that he can make larger-scale adjustments to contend against a Dubs core that has been to the mountaintops three times before.
Neither contest has been competitive thus far, with the final score being no less than a 15-point differential in both games. Will that turn around on the Boston Celtics’ home floor?
Hardwood Houdini has the odds and lays out a prediction for Game 3 (live on ABC at 9 P.M. EST) at the T.D. Garden:
Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBet, the Celtics are a 3.5-point favorite against the Warriors at home. Golden State is an underdog on the road at +130, with the Cs moneyline set at -160. The over/under for the game has been placed at 212.5 points.
Celtics vs. Warriors prediction
Game 2 did not go as the Houdini foresaw it. We had too much confidence fading a franchise that has been here before and has never gone down 2-0 in the NBA Finals with their current core.
The return of Gary Payton II ended up being a major positive for the Warriors, who got seven points, three rebounds, three assists, and a +15 plus/minus in his first game back from an elbow injury that occurred in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals when Dillon Brooks hit him with a flagrant swipe on a layup attempt. Add that to a dominant 29/6/4 night from Steph Curry and a timely second-unit shooting display from Jordan Poole, and you had a series-evening night the Cs had little chance of stopping.
The slate is wiped clean now, though. Postseason momentum does not carry over game-to-game, especially when a flight across the country is involved.
Udoka’s Celtics haven’t lost two in a row these playoffs, and haven’t done so since the end of March. That was on the second night of a back to back with several starters missing.
Lay the 3.5.