Best Warriors Odds, Picks & Prop Bets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals (2022)
Here’s our Warriors betting guide for Game 5 of the NBA Finals between Golden State and the Boston Celtics. Check out our preview, top picks, prop bets, parlays, and first basket bet for tonight’s game.
Golden State Warriors Game 5 Preview
It was Andrew Wiggins who rose to the Robin (Curry = Batman) occasion for the Warriors in Game 4, scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 boards in the critical win. It was Wiggins +/- (+20) that really stood out for the Warriors, trailing only Kevon Looney to lead all players on either team.
Draymond Green once again struggled with the Celtics’ athleticism, scoring just two points while picking up nine rebounds himself. After a confidence-boosting Game 3 where he scored 25 points, Klay Thompson scored 18 in this game but failed to get to the free-throw line; something the Warriors will look to change in Game 5 back at home.
Celtics vs. Warriors Game 5: Top NBA Finals Betting Odds & Picks
#1. Warriors -3.5 | -110 at DK Sportsbook
Despite coming into the game with a foot injury sustained at the end of Game 3 when Al Horford fell on it, Curry still turned in his second-best NBA Finals performance of his career as the Warriors stormed back after tailing with five minutes left to even the series at two. Andrew Wiggins was the second-best player for the Warriors, scoring 17 points while racking up another 16 rebounds in a game they needed him desperately.
It’s also worth noting that the combination of Wiggins and big man Kevon Looney, who combined for 72 minutes and 23 points, finished the game with a combined +/- of +42 on a night no other Warrior had higher than +11.
For the Celtics, Tatum (23) and Jaylen Brown (21) got their standard 20+, but the rest of the Celtics ran out of gas late, with no other player scoring more than 18 points. Big man Robert Williams III who has been critical so far this series, was noticeably limping late after starting the game with a knee injury. Listed as probable for tonight’s game, his status is critical against a Warriors team who had yet to find much of an answer for his size and athleticism.
In this game, I like for head coach Steve Kerr to scheme a plan focused on attacking Williams down low, creating plenty of opportunities for a ticking bucket time bomb in Klay Thompson or Jordan Poole, both of whom are overdue for a monster postseason performance.
#2. Over 211 | -110 at DK Sportsbook
Adding even more to the parity of this series, the total is 2-2, with each game’s total decided by more than 12 points. In this game, I like for the Warriors’ return home, where they’ve excelled all season offensively, to be the difference and for the Splash Brothers to turn in a historic performance on the offensive end.
For the Celtics side of the equation, Tatum has been primarily held in check over the past few games since starting the series on fire, and I like for a big display from him tonight to also assist in this game sailing over the total at the Chase Center.
Celtics vs. Warriors Game 5: NBA Finals First Basket Props Odds & Picks
It’s hard to go against Robert Williams III in the opening tip as he’s won three of the four in this series against both Kevon Looney and Draymond Green. Williams has won over 60% of the opening tips during the playoffs.
The Celtics are the best team this season at grabbing the first basket with a 63% hit rate, while Golden State is well-below average at just 40%. You would suspect the opposite as the Warriors have knocked down the first points in three of the four games of this series.
Two of the three tip wins for Boston didn’t result in points on the first possession. Williams should help them gain that initial possession, but Boston has been slow out of the gate in many games throughout the playoffs. Andrew Wiggins had a first basket already in this series and leads the team in first field goal attempts, first-team baskets, and first-game baskets.
First basket: Andrew Wiggins +850
Celtics vs. Warriors Game 5: NBA Finals Same Game Parlay Odds & Picks
Leg #1. Warriors -4.5
We’ve mentioned at length the improbable record of NBA Finals teams who win being undefeated ATS, so I have no problem laying the points here with a Warriors team who I think cruises late in this one. For the Celtics, Robert Williams III has been the difference-maker for me in this series, as his size and athleticism have been too much for the Warriors to account for while shutting down elite scorers in Brown and Tatum.
Now dealing with a knee injury that hampered his performance late in Game 4, I like for the Warriors to take advantage as head coach Steve Kerr will be scheming around this development early and often tonight in San Francisco.
Leg #2. Draymond Green 8+ Points
Visibly bothered by being the focus of a vicious TD Garden crowd the past two games, Green has struggled to score just two points in each game. In Games 1 and 2 at home, Green averaged 6.5 points per game, still below his season average of 7.5.
Returning home tonight to the friendly confines of the Chase Center, Green will also look to attack an ailing Williams, and I expect just that. Look for Green to regress towards his average, where we’d need just one additional bucket to get over this points total.
Leg #3. Klay Thompson has 22+ Points
We saw flashes of Splash Brother #2’s old self in Game 3, scoring 25 points in a Warriors loss. With a regular-season average of 20.4 points per game, we’ve still yet to see a truly big game from Thompson, and I think we get that tonight in a game that the Warriors desperately need someone to compliment Steph from the field.
Already known as “Game 6 Klay†for historical performances over the Warriors dynasty run of the past decade, it should be just a matter of time before we see one more historical performance. The injury to Williams should also benefit Thompson, as it provides the Celtics one less lanky athlete to close out on the Warriors from deep.
Parlay Odds: +650 at DK Sportsbook
Celtics vs. Warriors Game 5: NBA Finals Player Prop Bet Rankings & Pick
Klay Thompson OVER 19.5 POINTS | -106 at FanDuel
This may sound like a contradiction, but I actually think Thompson is hurting the Warriors at the moment. I am not saying they would be better without him, but they definitely would be better if he played smarter basketball. Curry needs help and it seems like Thompson is desperate to be the second gun, which is why I am playing this pick.
Despite not playing well, he is taking so many shots that I can’t pass up this one. He is taking 17.5 field goal attempts per game since returning, and this number increases to 18 at home and 19.4 at home when playing 30+ minutes. He is averaging 37 mpg in his last 10, and the books are suggesting he won’t get 20 points in almost 40 minutes on 20 shots and 10 three-point attempts? I am sorry, I don’t believe it. Warriors will live or die with Steph and Klay’s threes, and if Thompson is going down, he will go down shooting.
And if he can’t score, I will go down with him at least knowing he tried. Good luck, and I predict we will be back at the Chase Center for NBA Finals for a Game 7.
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