NBA Finals Tips – Celtics @ Warriors Predictions – Game 2

Betseeker’s expert tipsters have you covered for the best NBA tips and predictions for every game of the NBA finals.

A last quarter surge saw the Celtics steal Game 1, but there’s no way we see the Warriors drop another home game prior to heading to Boston for Game 3.

Tune in from 10:00am for Golden State v Boston on Kayo.


Best Bet

Golden State -4
Line

After dropping just their fifth game of the post-season, the Warriors simply need to win Game 2 to keep the series alive, and as the experienced, consummate professionals that they are you can count on this series being squared up heading to Boston for Game 3.

From their last three losses in the playoffs prior to their Game 1 loss, the Warriors have always bounced back strong and covered the line the following game – the average winning margin from those three games 18 points.

Game 1 revealed some urgent defensive adjustments required from the Warriors which says a lot more about Boston’s versatility, and the quality of offensive spread the Celtics have in comparison to Golden State’s Western Conference opponents this post-season. Of the 41 3-point attempts by the Celtics in Game 1, 23 were classified as wide open – Steve Kerr simply won’t allow this to happen again in Game 2 with the championship on the line.

Although it appeared a convincing Boston win in Game 1, the Warriors were up 14 points approaching the final possession of the third quarter. If they don’t take their foot off the gas to start the fourth and allow the Celtics to build momentum in the last, this would be a very different story. The Warriors make sure of it in Game 2.


Value Bet

Kevon Looney 14+
RA

The big man who has been instrumental to this Warriors team this post season doesn’t necessarily produce big point totals, but does do a bit of everything else.

Kevon Looney managed 9 rebounds and 5 assists in just 25 minutes in Game 1 with a +/- of -2, which may mean we see more of him in Game 2 opposed to Steve Kerr splitting his minutes with Otto Porter.

In their two games across the regular season, Looney averages 13.4 rebounds and 3 assists per 36 minutes against the Celtics, and although we probably won’t see him reach that minutes tally it’s fair to assume 30+ is on the agenda due to his defensive capabilities.

From his last seven games including the Game 6 breakout against the Grizzlies, Looney averages 12 rebounds and 3.6 assists – no reason why he can’t replicate these numbers in a must-win against the Celtics.


Same Game Multi

Golden State H2H / Andrew Wiggins 15+ Points / Derrick White 10+ Points

The home team hasn’t dropped both Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals since Shaq and Penny’s Orlando Magic back in 1995 (cue Nick Anderson nightmares) – surely the Warriors won’t be the first team in 27 years to repeat this.

Andrew Wiggins 15+ points in the staple in each SGM – he’s now done so 11 of his last 14 games and is coming off a 20-point Game 1 performance.

Derrick White has embraced this role as 6th man for the Celtics with his confidence going through the roof since requiring to start in Game 4 of the Heat series. Since then he’s had 10+ points in four of the last five games, averaging 15.6 points.

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Few know the NBA like Dale, who has spent years backing winners for punters across a number of publications and podcasts. He also specialises in tennis and AFL.