The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty remains alive and well. After a two-year absence from the NBA Finals, Steph Curry and the Warriors are playing for the NBA championship for the sixth time in eight seasons. The Warriors face the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference, in the best-of-7 series. Game 1 is June 2 in San Francisco.

The Warriors are 3-2 in NBA Finals series helmed by Curry. The Celtics, one of the more decorated franchises in NBA history, make their first appearance in the final round since 2010.

Golden State and Boston split their season series, each winning on the road. The March 16 matchup, won by the Celtics 110-88, was marred when Marcus Smart dove into the leg of Curry going for a loose ball, causing the superstar to miss the final 12 games of the regular season.

Ahead of Game 1 on Thursday, let’s break down the series and make our NBA picks to back on betting apps.

NBA Finals Celtics vs Warriors Series Odds

NBA Finals Betting Tips

Marcus Smart Key

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been the 1-2 punch for the Celtics and that includes the two games vs. Golden State. But Smart averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists vs. the Warriors this year.

In the regular season he was at 12.1/3.8/5.9, but in these playoffs he is at 15.0/4.2/6.5. He’s picked up his game in the postseason and was already great vs. Golden State.

Defensive Holes

Boston ranks No. 1 in the NBA in fewest points allowed while Golden State is a solid third. But each has issues vs. specific positions. The Celtics allowed the fourth-most production to power forwards and eighth-most to small forwards – good news for Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins.

The Warriors, however, rank No. 5 in most production allowed to point guards and No. 10 to small forwards, offering favorable matchups for Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum.

Lack Of Scoring Depth For Boston

The Warriors’ reserves have scored 37.8 ppg in the postseason, most in the league, with a +/- rating of 1.8 points, second only to the Hawks. Boston’s bench ranks No. 3 in +/- at 1.7 due to the defense.

Its bench is scoring only 23.4 ppg, 14th out of 16 playoff teams. Expect continued big minutes from the starting five of Boston.

NBA Finals Picks & Predictions

First, kudos to both teams for getting this far. When the season began, the Warriors (+900) were behind the Lakers in the West to win the title, while the Celtics (+4000) were No. 6 in the East, right behind the Atlanta Hawks on the NBA betting board.

Golden State is -150 to win the series at most online sportsbooks. Boston comes in at +130. It’s not a shock, given the proximity of the team odds, that Warriors in 7 is the most likely outcome on the table at +310, followed by Celtics in 6 (+370).

Boston was one of my picks to win the NBA title at the All-Star Break on the NBA futures market, but I won’t double-down on the Celtics here. Instead, I’ll offer a slight hedge for a Warriors team that, finally healthy, is 16-4 in the playoffs.

Boston matches up well with Golden State, but to fade Steph and Klay here doesn’t sound … sound. This has the makings of a seven-game series. Take Golden State in 7 at NBA odds of +310, especially if you already have a Celtics title ticket in your pocket.

NBA Finals Schedule & TV

• Game 1: June 2, Boston at Golden State, 9 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2: June 5, Boston at Golden State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 3: June 8, Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 4: June 10, Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 5: June 13, Boston at Golden State, 9 p.m. ET, ABC*
• Game 6: June 16, Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET, ABC*
• Game 7: June 19, Boston at Golden State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC*

*-if necessary

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Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., and Andre Iguodala all practiced but didn't scrimmage on Monday, according to Steve Kerr.

Kerr added that the team would get a clearer view of their status later in the week if and when they scrimmage. 

Iguodala hasn't played since the first round of the playoffs due to neck issues. Payton fractured his elbow in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, and Porter suffered a foot injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. 

Kerr gave the Warriors two days off following their series-clinching win against the Mavs. 

Game 1 of the NBA Finals takes place on Thursday. 

The Golden State Warriors are -160 favorites over the Boston Celtics in the 2022 Finals.

The Warriors entered the season at 10-1 odds to win the championship. 

Boston began the season as a 50-1 long shot. Based on preseason odds, the Celtics would be the biggest long shot to win a title in the past 35 years, according to sports betting archive SportsOddsHistory.com.

The Golden State Warriors are taking advantage of having a week off between their Western Conference Finals clincher and the start of the 2022 NBA Finals. Part of that advantage is rest and the ability to work injured players back into the lineup.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. would all be integrated back into practices slowly this week. After seeing each practice, Golden State will have a better idea of their availability to play in the NBA Finals.

Iguodala hasn't played since Game 4 of the first round. He's been dealing with a neck injury. Payton has been out since fracturing his elbow in Game 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round. Porter is battling a foot injury he suffered in Game 3 against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

Kerr gave his entire team two days off after they eliminated the Mavericks in five games. He said that was a "rare opportunity to decompress" at this point in the season, Kerr also said it's huge that the Warriors won't have to get on a plane until June 6.

When the Golden State Warriors traded for Andrew Wiggins in 2020, the prevailing thought was that they would flip him, and his contract, in another trade. At the time of the deal, the Warriors assured Wiggins and his camp that they acquired him for his basketball ability, not his contract.

Wiggins repaid that by making his first All-Star team in 2022. Despite a lessened offensive role with the Warriors than he had with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wiggins has remained a productive player. He's also improved as defender while with Golden State.

Next season is the final year of the five-year deal Wiggins signed with the Wolves. Wiggins will be an unrestricted free agent in 2023, unless he reaches an agreement on an extension with the Warriors.

Gary Payton II is expected to return for the NBA Finals after being out since Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Payton suffered a fractured elbow on a breakaway when fouled by Dillon Brooks, who was assessed a Flagrant 2 and also received a one-game suspension.

Payton has been a rotation player for the Warriors this season and one of the league's best point of attack defenders. Payton will be a free agent this offseason.

Steph Curry was named as the first ever Magic Johnson Western Conference finals Most Valuable Player following the Golden State Warriors series-clinching win over the Dallas Mavericks.

The award was voted on by nine members of the media after Game 5. The league introduced MVP awards for the conference finals earlier this season. 

Curry averaged 23.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds in the series.

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Rob Mahoney of The Ringer (@RobMahoney) break down the NBA Conference Finals.

They discuss their lessons from the playoffs so far, breaking feedback loops, defensive philosophies, a potential Celtics/Warriors NBA Finals and much more.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed. 

Otto Porter is not expected to play for the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Porter also missed Game 4 due to the left foot injury he sustained in Game 3.

Porter is averaging 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20.7 minutes over 13 games during the playoffs.