The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics return to face the team that prevented them from winning it all last year. Conversely, the Warriors need to start winning and soon.

The oddsmakers see Boston as -2.5 favourites on the NBA odds. 

Celtics vs. Warriors NBA Betting Odds

The elephant in the room must be addressed. Both sides clashed in last year’s Finals in a six-game series that Golden State claimed 4-2. The San Francisco-based club looked to be against the ropes after falling behind 2-1 in the series. Game 4 was at TD Garden, a contest the Celtics led in the final frame. Resolve and experience helped Steph Curry and company claw back, win three straight and pop champagne in the visitor’s locker room.

For as consistent as Steve Kerr’s unit has been since 2015, the Celtics are one of the few organizations that don’t fear them. The Massachusetts squad is 7-3 over the last ten regular season games against the annual title contenders. More eye-popping is that three of those seven victories were earned at Golden State. They pinched one of their two Finals wins at Chase Arena as well. Boston doesn’t mind playing the Warriors, irrespective of the setting. To be fair, Warriors fans will retort that their team wins when it matters most. 

As for spreads, Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are cruising at 17-9. Moreover, they’ve covered eight of the past nine spreads, and ten of the past twelve. 

On the flip side, the Warriors are 12-14 ATS. They cover more often at home, however, having gone 8-2 in the last ten games. 

Boston Celtics

What to make of Wednesday night’s 125-98 win over the Phoenix Suns? An away match against the team leading the Western Conference and with one of its stars back (Chris Paul) felt like an interesting test. It was over at half-time. 69-42 signalled that the Celtics had arrived in the desert to cause serious damage. They showed no mercy in the third, ballooning their lead to as many as 45 points! Scariest statistic? They were below their average from the three-point range (35.6% on the night vs 40% for the season).

Was a message being sent to the Warriors? Were the Suns simply pitiful (it was bad)? Stay tuned on Saturday night. Al Horford is still listed as day-to-day, which could hurt when players like Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Kevon Looney drive to the basket.

Golden State Warriors

If there was ever a moment for the 10th-seeded, 13-13 Warriors to kick the engine into a higher gear, it would be against the very team they schooled last summer in the Finals. Losers of two straight, including a frustrating 124-123 defeat to Utah on Wednesday, this is not the on-court product fans envisioned at the start of the year.

A stark dichotomy exists between the Warriors at home and the Warriors away. Look no further than their opposite records in both situations. 11-2 at Chase Center and 2-11 on the road. The defence has taken a severe step back: 26^th in points against per game and, shockingly, dead last in free throw attempts allowed. They get up for home games and have often found ways to win. That’ll be imperative Saturday. Of note: Andrew Wiggins is listed as Out.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Warriors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 29.43
Assists	Draymond Green 6.85
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 9.27
FG%	Kevon Looney 63
Steals	Donte DiVincenzo 1.35
Blocks	Draymond Green 0.82

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 30.46
Assists	Draymond Green 6.83
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 13.08
FG%	Kevon Looney 57.8
Steals	Draymond Green 1.5
Blocks	Andrew Wiggins 1.15

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Warriors Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 29.43
Assists	Draymond Green 6.85
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 9.27
FG%	Kevon Looney 63
Steals	Donte DiVincenzo 1.35
Blocks	Draymond Green 0.82

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 30.46
Assists	Draymond Green 6.83
Rebounds	Kevon Looney 13.08
FG%	Kevon Looney 57.8
Steals	Draymond Green 1.5
Blocks	Andrew Wiggins 1.15

Injuries

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Mon Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Fri Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 05 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Wed Chest - 02 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sat Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 06 / 04 / 23

Golden State

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Ques Fri Ribs - 11 / 05 / 23

Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)

Ques Fri Toe - 07 / 05 / 23

Kevon Looney (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 04 / 05 / 23

Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Toe - 28 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23

Draymond Green (PF)

Elig Sun Suspension - 19 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 19 / 04 / 23

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 19 / 04 / 23

Jordan Poole (SG)

Ques Mon Ankle - 16 / 04 / 23

Stephen Curry (PG)

Prob Sun Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Mon	Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23	2-1	0-3	+ -
Brogdon is nursing a partially torn tendon in his right forearm, but it is anticipated that he will be active versus the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Fri	Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23	3-4	3-4	+ -
Brogdon is managing a right forearm strain, but it is likely that he will take on the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Smart is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 05 / 05 / 23	6-6	6-6	+ -
Griffin is tending to lower-back pain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Wed	Chest - 02 / 05 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Smart is nursing a chest contusion, leaving his status against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals up in the air.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23	8-9	11-6	+ -
Smart is hindered by a tailbone contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sat	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Horford is nursing lower back stiffness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Hawks.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Williams is managing left knee soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status for the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Hawks.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
White has a left ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Friday's tilt with the Raptors.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
Brogdon is hampered by lower-back soreness, but it is likely that he will bounce back in time to face the Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Ques Fri	Ribs - 11 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wiggins is dealing with a left costal cartilage fracture, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)	Ques Fri	Toe - 07 / 05 / 23	2-2	2-2	+ -
Baldwin Jr. missed the previous two games with left toe soreness, and it is up in the air if he will play in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers.
Kevon Looney (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 04 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Looney is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Toe - 28 / 04 / 23	4-4	4-4	+ -
Baldwin Jr. is managing left toe soreness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23	5-5	5-5	+ -
Poole is expected to suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings despite a left ankle sprain.
Draymond Green (PF)	Elig Sun	Suspension - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Green has been handed a one-game suspension for stepping on an opponent's chest, but he is expected to return to the court in time for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Poole is tending to a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will dress for Game 3 with the Kings in the Western Conference first round.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 19 / 04 / 23	5-6	5-6	+ -
Wiggins is nursing right shoulder soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Kings in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 16 / 04 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Poole is tending to a left ankle sprain, leaving his status for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings up in the air.
Stephen Curry (PG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-7	8-7	+ -
Curry is dealing with a right hip contusion, but it is predicted that he will lace up versus the Trail Blazers on Sunday.