jayson-tatum
USATSI

The Boston Celtics are looking to maintain home-court advantage when they host the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals on Wednesday night. Golden State bounced back from a loss in the series opener with a 107-88 blowout win in Game 2 on Sunday. Point guard Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 points, while Jayson Tatum had a team-high 28 points for Boston.

Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are listed as 3.5-point favorites in the latest Warriors vs. Celtics odds from Caesars Sportsbook, with the over-under set at 213.5. Before you make any NBA predictions for the Celtics vs. Warriors match-up, you need to see what SportsLine expert Zack Cimini has to say.

A Las Vegas handicapper who's never afraid to buck conventional wisdom, Cimini excels in multiple sports. Over the past 35 NBA picks, Cimini is 22-13, returning almost $800 to $100 players. He is also on an amazing 38-17-1 run with his last 56 against-the-spread picks involving the Celtics, returning almost $1,700 to $100 players.

Now, Cimini has set his sights on Celtics vs. Warriors, and just locked in his picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Warriors vs. Celtics:

  • Celtics vs. Warriors spread: Boston -3.5
  • Celtics vs. Warriors over-under: 213.5 points
  • Celtics vs. Warriors money line: Boston -145, Golden State +125
  • Celtics vs. Warriors tickets: See tickets at StubHub
  • BOS: The Celtics are 13-7 against the spread in playoff games
  • GS: The Warriors are 10-8 against the spread in playoff games

Why the Warriors can cover

Golden State has been the better team for the lion's share of the series. The Warriors have out-scored the Celtics on the whole, and aside from the fourth quarter of Game 1, things have gone according to plan for Curry and company. Defense was at the forefront in Game 2, with the Celtics scoring only 89.8 points per 100 possessions. Golden State is holding Boston to 16.5 free throw attempts per game in the series, and the Warriors are averaging 11.5 steals per contest, generating fast break opportunities as a result. The Celtics are also shooting only 42.5 percent from two-point range in the first two games, and Boston was credited with only one field goal at the rim in Game 2.

From there, the Warriors are undeniable on offense, posting the No. 1 offensive efficiency mark in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The Warriors have a 59.7 percent true shooting clip in the postseason, and Golden State is shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc against Boston. Curry is dynamic, averaging 31.5 points per game, converting 46 percent from three-point range in the series, and Golden State is the best passing team in the NBA, leading the league in assist rate during the regular season.

Why the Celtics can cover

Golden State might have won Game 2 by 19 points, but it was a tight game outside of a lopsided third quarter. The Celtics gave the game away with turnovers, as 18 giveaways led to 33 Golden State points. They should put together a much cleaner performance in front of their home crowd on Wednesday night.

The extended break between Game 2 and Game 3 will give Boston's Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III extra time to recover from their injuries. This will be the first game at TD Garden since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami on May 27, so a raucous crowd will be on hand. It is also Golden State's first road game since May 24 and just its fourth road game since May 4. The Warriors have gone 2-5 against the spread in seven games as visitors this postseason. 

How to make Warriors vs. Celtics picks

For Game 3 of the NBA Finals 2022, Cimini is leaning under on the point total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and which side of the Warriors vs. Celtics spread to back, at SportsLine.

So who wins Celtics vs. Warriors? And which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Warriors vs. Celtics spread you need to jump on, all from the expert that has crushed his NBA picks, and find out.