{"id":42280,"date":"2022-06-08T18:29:22","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T18:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/nba-finals-game-3-expert-predictions-spreads-lines-and-betting-preview-for-celtics-vs-warriors\/"},"modified":"2022-06-08T18:29:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-08T18:29:22","slug":"nba-finals-game-3-expert-predictions-spreads-lines-and-betting-preview-for-celtics-vs-warriors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/nba-finals-game-3-expert-predictions-spreads-lines-and-betting-preview-for-celtics-vs-warriors\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Finals Game 3 expert predictions: Spreads, lines and betting preview for Celtics vs. Warriors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Follow our live coverage of Celtics vs. Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. <\/em><\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors had double-digit leads entering the fourth quarter of both NBA Finals games at Chase Center, but the series heads to Boston tied 1-1. The Celtics haven’t lost consecutive games in these playoffs, but the pressure will be on to keep home court.<\/p>\n

Golden State will enter Wednesday’s Game 3 with plenty of confidence after getting a comfortable win in Game 2. Does that mean momentum is on the Warriors’ side?<\/p>\n

The Celtics enter Game 3 as the favorite, but the Warriors are a slight favorite in the series on BetMGM.<\/p>\n

What time is Celtics vs. Warriors Game 3?<\/h3>\n

Time:<\/strong> Wednesday, 9 pm (ET)<\/p>\n

Channel:<\/strong> ABC (streaming on the ESPN app)<\/p>\n

During the NBA playoffs, <\/em>The Athletic‘s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here<\/em>. <\/em>Our in-depth NBA coverage is linked below the picks. For live NBA odds from BetMGM, click here<\/em>.<\/p>\n

NBA Finals schedule<\/h3>\n

Game 1: <\/strong>Celtics 120, Warriors 108<\/p>\n

Game 2: <\/strong>Warriors 107, Celtics 88 | Series tied 1-1<\/p>\n

Game 3: <\/strong>Warriors at Celtics | Wednesday, June 8 | 9 pm ET<\/p>\n

Game 4: <\/strong>Warriors at Celtics | Friday, June 10 | 9 pm ET<\/p>\n

Game 5: <\/strong>Celtics at Warriors | Monday, June 13 | 9 pm ET<\/p>\n

Game 6 *: <\/strong>Warriors at Celtics | Thursday, June 16 | 9 pm ET<\/p>\n

Game 7 *: <\/strong>Celtics at Warriors | Sunday, June 19 | 8 pm ET<\/p>\n

What are the odds for Celtics vs. Warriors Game 3?<\/h3>\n
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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/span><\/th>\nSpread<\/span><\/th>\nTotal<\/span><\/th>\nMoneyline<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n\n\n\n

+135<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

-3.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

212.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-160<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Series odds:<\/strong> Warriors -115, Celtics -105<\/p>\n

Celtics vs. Warriors Game 3 preview<\/h3>\n

What are they using to spike the halftime orange slices in those locker rooms? Through two games in these finals, the Warriors have outscored the Celtics in the third quarter by 35 points. Two games don’t make a trend, but wow. In the three other quarters, the Celtics played well enough to compete for a record 18th NBA title. In the third quarter, they’re asleep at the wheel.<\/p>\n

It’s tough to know what to make of those ugly third quarters. In the regular season, Boston was the best third-quarter team in the league. The Warriors were second best. Now the lights are off for the Celtics. In Game 1, the Celtics needed a historic rally in the fourth quarter to win and they did it by, basically, becoming the Warriors and raining 3s.<\/p>\n

Let’s ignore this issue for now. The series bounces back to Boston where the Celtics went 28-13 in the regular season, good for the second-most home wins in the East. They are certainly friendly confines, even if the ghosts of the old Garden didn’t relocate around the corner to the new Garden. The Celtics are healthy favorites in Game 3.<\/p>\n

Ime Udoka is the opposite of candid – he’s one of the least forthcoming coaches in the league. But the Celtics coach spelled out exactly what his team needs. \u201cWe’re 13-2 when we have 15 or less turnovers in the playoffs, and we’re 0-5 when we have 16 or more,\u201d he said, doing reporters jobs for them. “That kind of tells a story.”<\/p>\n

It does tell a story. And the lead character in that subplot is Draymond Green. The Warriors’ best defender held Jaylen Brown to 5-of-17 shooting and “tried to muck the game up,” Brown said<\/a>. Maybe the Celtics should have mucked back?<\/p>\n

Green, though, wasn’t guarding Jayson Tatum, who was minus-36 on the floor in Game 2. Tatum has a turnover problem. He needs just 11 more turnovers to break LeBron James’ playoffs record of 94 set in 2018. If Boston’s scoring leader tightens the screws, the Celtics should be in much better position.<\/p>\n

There is nothing left to sneak up on the Warriors and Celtics. They can only enact their intentions or fall short. The big moments, what we’ll probably remember most about these finals five years from now, will decide Game 3 – whether that means Green pantsing another player, Stephen Curry dropping 50 or Tatum going for a triple-double. But no single quarter will decide Game 3.<\/p>\n

Celtics vs. Warriors expert picks and predictions for Game 3<\/h3>\n
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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Writer<\/span><\/th>\nStraight-up pick<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n

Andrew Schlecht<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Jason Jones<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Richard Deitsch<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Dave DuFour<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Michael Beller<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

James Edwards III<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Sam Vecenie<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n
\n

Cole Huff<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Related coverage<\/h3>\n

News | Podcasts | Odds<\/p>\n

(Photo of Jayson Tatum and Klay Thompson<\/ignore>: Ezra Shaw \/ Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n