NBA Finals Game 4: Warriors at Celtics Preview
The Boston Celtics are now just two wins away from clinching the NBA Championship after they beat the Golden State Warriors 116-110 this week.
That victory saw them take a 2-1 series lead over the Dubs in a gripping NBA Finals showdown. Game 4 takes place at the TD Garden in Boston on Friday night, meaning Australian fans will be able to watch the action live on Saturday morning.
This article brings you up to speed within developments in the series so far and looks ahead to the next clash between these elite teams.
Celtics Seize the Initiative
The Boston Celtics went into the NBA Finals as the clear underdogs. After all, they were up against a Warriors team featuring three of the greatest players of the modern era: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
That superstar triumvirate has powered the Warriors to three NBA Championships and two runner-up finishes over the past seven years. Meanwhile, none of the Celtics players had ever previously played in an NBA Finals.
However, Celtics were totally undaunted as they eased to a 120-108 win against the Warriors in the series opener at Chase Center. Curry put up 34 points in that game, but Boston’s defence – the meanest in the league this season – kept Thompson quiet en route to victory. The Celtics produced a 40-16 fourth-quarter beatdown, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White all shining.
Curry Continues to Shine
Game 2 was a one-sided affair. Curry produced another world-class performance, and his haul of 29 points helped the Dubs earn a 107-88 victory. That did not bode well for the Celtics’ chances in Game 3, as their best performances have come on the road this season, but the TD Garden was rocking when the action reverted to Boston this week.
Center Robert Williams III put in a colossal defensive performance, Brown scored 27 points, Tatum put up 26 and Smart added 24 as the Celtics earned a dramatic win.
As has been the case in every game so far in this series, they had to survive a third-quarter onslaught. Curry led the charge with 15 points in a 33-25 third-quarter, and he ended the game with 31 points overall. His fellow Splash Brother, Thompson, emerged from his slump to add 25 points. However, it was not enough. The crowd jeered Green throughout proceedings, and Boston’s players fed off that energy to take control of this series.
Celtics Lead in Key Statistical Categories
The Celtcis now dominate six major categories against the Warriors in this series. The Celtics have put up more points, rebounds, assists and blocks.
They are also shooting a better field goal percentage and three-point percentage, which is surprising when you consider they are up against Curry and Thompson.
It is worth noting that the Celtics are now 7-0 after a loss during the current postseason. They always seem to bounce back from a defeat in style, so they were the odds-on favourites to win Game 3. They duly delivered, thanks largely to the brilliance of Tatum and Williams’ defensive heroics.
Game 4 Details
The next game in the series takes place at TD Garden at 11am (AEST) on Saturday, June 11, although it will be Friday evening for the players.
After this match, the action heads back to California, so the Celtics will be keen to open up a 3-1 series lead before going back on the road.
If you would like to watch the game, you can tune into Kayo, ESPN or Foxtel, while the NBA League Pass is another option.
NBA Finals Game 4 Team News
Warriors fans are sweating on Curry’s fitness ahead of Game 4. Horford rolled on his leg on a loose ball in the dying stages of the game, causing Curry to go down with an ankle injury.
It brought back memories of the clash between these teams in the regular season, when a collision with Smart caused him to miss 12 games. Curry said the current injury is “not as bad” as that one, which occurred on the same foot, and said he thinks he should be available for Game 4. “I’ll be all right,” insisted Curry after the game. “Obviously, will be in some pain, but I’ll be alright. See how I feel tomorrow and get ready for Friday.”
That suggests he will play in this game. Whether he will be operating at the peak of his powers is another matter entirely. Curry leads the NBA Finals for points this year, and he will be crucial to his team’s chances of levelling up the series in Game 4, so the Dubs will have to pray for him to make a speedy recovery.
There are no other injury concerns for either team. Williams has struggled with a sore left knee throughout the series, but he was superb in Game 3, and the Celtics will have a great chance of success if he can hit those heights again in the next game.
Can the Dubs Rally Again in Game 4?
The Warriors shrugged off the disappointment of losing to Boston in Game 1 by sweeping their opponents aside in Game 2. They will need to channel that energy when they head back into battle at TD Garden.
The Dubs will also need a lot more from Green, who admitted his performance was “soft” in Game 3. He is the team’s emotional leader, and the Warriors rely upon his energy and his intelligence on the court.
Coach Steve Kerr expects Green to bounce back quickly, and he will play a vital role if the Warriors are to prevail in this must-win game.
NBA Finals Game 4 Betting Options
We make the Celtics the 1.59 favourites to win Game 4. The Warriors are out at 2.40 as the clear underdogs.
You can alternatively opt for Boston -4 at odds of 1.93 in the line betting. The Warriors +4 is priced at 1.90.
If you are unfamiliar with line betting, you can back the Celtics -4 if you think they will win the game by at least 5 points. Alternatively, you could bet on the Warriors +4 if you believe they will either win the game or lose by up to 3 points. If the Celtics win by 4 points, it is settled as a push and all the money wagered is refunded.
The total points line has been set at 214.5, with 1.91 on over and 1.91 on under. Once again, you have two options: bet on over if you expect at least 215 points, or bet on under if you think the teams will combine for no more than 214 points.
Additional Betting Markets for Game 4
We are also offering winner/totals double bets on this game. The Celtics to win and over 214.5 points is priced at 3.00, as is the Celtics to win and under 214.5 points. You can combine the Warriors to win with either over or under 214.5 points at 4.50.
Alternatively, you can check out lines/totals double bets. The Celtics -3.5 and over 214.5 points is priced at 3.45, while the Celtics -3.5 and under 214.5 points is 3.50. We are offering 3.70 on the Dubs +3.5 and under 214.5 and 375 on the Warriors +3.5 and over 214.5. Another option is to bet on the result at half-time and full-time. The Celtics are 2.01 to lead at half-time and full-time in that market.
We have all sorts of alternate lines and totals too. They allow you to make life harder for yourself in return for a larger potential profit, or you can move the lines in your favour in exchange for a smaller profit. We have lines on the first quarter and the first half too, and you will be able to place live bets over the phone when the action gets underway.
NBA Finals Futures Market Update
We have now installed the Celtics as the 1.44 favourites to win this series after their impressive victory in Game 3. The Warriors are 2.80 outsiders, as they need to overhaul a deficit.
There are now five remaining options in the series correct score market: Celtics to win 4-2 (3.00), Celtics to win 4-1 (3.70), Warriors to win 4-3 (4.00), Celtics to win 4-3 (6.00) and Warriors to win 4-2 (8.50). It suggests that if the Dubs are going to clinch the NBA Championship, they will have to do it the hard way.
If you are interested in series handicap betting, the main line has the Celtics -1.5 games at 1.77 and the Warriors +1.5 games at 2.00. You can bet on the number of games that the series will require too. Six games is the 2.25 favourite, followed by seven games at 2.60 and five games at 3.80.
Tatum is now the 1.80 favourite to be named NBA Finals MVP. The award goes to a player on the winning team, and Tatum is the main man for Boston. Brown is his main challenger at 4.80, followed by Smart at 31.00. If the Dubs turn things around, it is likely to go to Curry, so he is the second favourite at 2.90.
**Odds quoted are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
