February 1, 2023 Update: Since writing this article, Massachusetts sports betting has been legalized. The first retail operators went live on January 31, 2023. Online operators are expected to go live in March with plenty of Massachusetts sportsbook promos available.
Golden State unleashed 48 minutes of hell on the visiting Boston Celtics in Sunday’s 107-88 rout in Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals.
The Warriors rebounded from their 120-108 loss in Friday’s Game 1, as Boston shot 37.5% from the field and turned it over 19 times.
The fork in the road that clinched Sunday’s clash was the third quarter, when Golden State outscored Boston, 35-14.
Now both teams trek 2,500-plus miles to play Game 3 at 9 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday in Boston.
Here’s a look at the rest of the NBA Finals from a betting perspective, but keep in mind there are currently no legal sportsbooks.
As it sits, Gov. Charlie Baker would sign a bill but has not been presented with one. Bills have not passed yet in either the House or Senate.
It will be a large market in the United States when it does pass.
NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Boston 120, Golden State 108
- Game 2: Golden State 107, Boston 88. Series tied 1-1.
- Game 3: Wednesday at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC
- Game 4: Friday at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC
- Game 5: June 13 at Golden State, 9 p.m., ABC
- Game 6: June 16 at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC (if nec.)
- Game 7: June 19 at Golden State, 8 p.m., ABC (if nec.)
Celtics a Slight Favorite in Game 3
The four largest Massachusetts betting apps agree on the spread for Game 3, with Boston a 3.5-point favorite.
Golden State was the betting favorite in Games 1 (-3.5) and 2 (-4.5) in the Finals.
For those looking to place a Game 3 moneyline wager, BetMGM has the Celtics at -160. Golden State is at +135.
During the regular season, the Warriors were 22-19 away from Chase Center. The Celtics went 28-13 on their home court.
BetMGM Has Host of NBA Finals Prop Bets
There are plenty of prop bets available for those who want to do even more wagering on the NBA Finals.
BetMGM Massachusetts has odds on who will win the 2022 NBA Finals MVP (Steph Curry +100, Jayson Tatum +135, Jaylen Brown +750, Al Horford +4000, Marcus Smart and Andrew Wiggins +5000).
It also has bets on how long the series will last, from five games (+300) to seven games (+140).
BetMGM also has odds on the exact series finish, ranging from +750 on the Warriors capping off a 4-1 series victory to +500 on the Celtics winning it all in seven games.
At Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts, the Warriors are +275 to win the series in seven games, while Boston is +275 to take it in six.
Warriors, Celtics a Toss-Up to Win NBA Finals
As for who will win the 2022 championship, the four major online sportsbooks have odds that favor both squads.
BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook have Golden State at -115 and Boston at -105, while DraftKings Sportsbook has Golden State at -105 and Boston at -115.
Boston had moved into the favorite’s role across all four sportsbooks after its Game 1 victory.
