As the 2022 NBA Finals near tip-off, casual basketball fans are looking forward to a hard-fought matchup between the Celtics and Warriors on the court, but bettors know the real action is in the numbers – namely, the odds, spreads, and totals. If you're planning on laying down some money ahead of Game 1 on Thursday, we have advice on our favorite series prop bets.
Most casual bettors will focus on game-by-game betting, whether it's taking a team against the spread or a player prop. However, if you have an inkling on how the series will go, you can put down some action ahead of Game 1 on a few series props that provide long-term value at plus money.
Odds provided by Sports Interaction
If you favor the Warriors…
Warriors' series handicap (spread). Taking the Warriors to win the series at -161 odds isn't terrible value considering Boston has odds of +129 ahead of Game 1, but it might not provide the most bang for your buck.
If you want to pick up some plus money and increase your bankroll, taking the Warriors to win this series by more than 1.5 games at +129 is a fantastic play. If you took this bet, you would need the Warriors to win the series either 4-0, 4-1, or 4-2. The oddsmakers currently like this series to go seven games (+171), but it's not crazy to think the series will last six. Sure, that means the Warriors will have to win the title on the road, but it's not as if they're incapable of that.
If you favor the Celtics…
Celtics' series correct score. Heading into Game 1 on Thursday night, Boston has +129 odds to win it all. For the Celtics to win the series in six games (4-2), the odds would be +351.