Celtics vs. Warriors NBA Finals Game 1 odds, betting trends: Money heavy on Golden State against spread, over total in opener
The Golden State Warriors are taking heavy betting action for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
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The Golden State Warriors are an astonishing 21-2 straight up in playoff Game 1s under Coach Steve Kerr (took over ahead of 2014-15 season) and have won 13 straight in them. They are 3.5-point home favorites for Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight against the Boston Celtics in the first-ever Finals game in San Francisco, and bettors at Caesars Sportsbook are heavily leaning the Warriors as well as over the total of 213.5 points.
Golden State is 7-0 all-time when playing at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and the team's 13-game overall Game 1 playoff home winning streak is the third-longest such streak in NBA history. The Warriors have played two Game 1s in this postseason and won 123-107 over Denver as a 6-point favorite in the first round and 112-87 as a 5.5-point favorite over Dallas in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are 9-0 at home in these playoffs, best in the league and tied for the most consecutive home victories in a single postseason in franchise history.
As of this writing, 79 percent of tickets on the spread for tonight's game at Caesars are on the Warriors, accounting for 71 percent of the money wagered. Favorites are 15-2 against the spread and 16-1 outright in Game 1 of the NBA Finals since 2005. The only outright upset in that span came by the Spurs (+5) in 2013 against the Heat.
On the total, 75 percent of the money and 68 percent of the tickets are on the Over, even though the Celtics have been by far the NBA's best defensive team in 2022.
The Warriors' offensive rating of 116.2 ranks first in this postseason and they also lead all playoff teams in scoring, averaging 114.5 points per game. Boston is allowing 101.0 points per game, second-lowest in the playoffs. The Warriors have the sixth-best defensive rating (111.0) among playoff teams; the Celtics have the second-best (105.1).
On the series line, Golden State is down to -145 and Boston is +125. Fifty-five percent of all money is on the Warriors but 52 percent of tickets on the Celtics. One Caesars bettor dropped $100,000 on the Celtics to win when they were +140. This is the 24th consecutive playoff series in which the Warriors have been favored.
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