The NBA Finals shifts to Boston Wednesday night with the best-of-seven series tied at one.
While NBA betting lines are always most popular, do not forget about prop bets.
NBA betting offers dozens of options and here are a few to consider for Game 3.
First Field Goal Scorer – Jayson Tatum (+600)
Betting who will score the first basket always feels like the equivalent of wagering on the coin toss in football, albeit far more exciting.
Golden State opened the scoring in Game 1 and 2 (Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, respectively). Still, with the Celtics returning home, expect the team to feed off the energy of the TD Garden faithful and buck that trend, specifically through the team’s leading scorer in Jayson Tatum.
“Big time players show up in big time moments. I believe Jayson Tatum is a big time player, and he’s got to show up in big time moments.”
—@stephenasmith on Tatum needing to step up in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/Sa2gy0yUQr
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 8, 2022
Stephen Curry Over 5.5 Assists (+110)
Already the game’s greatest shooter, Curry continues to be an underrated playmaker, topping his 5.5 assists prop in three of his past five games. He was well on his way to a fourth such effort if not for Game 2’s lopsided score, racking up four assists in 32 minutes.
Averaging 31.5 points per game through the series’ first two contests, Curry should see numerous double teams, providing plenty of opportunities to set up his teammates.
Jayson Tatum Over 27.5 Points (-120)
As he has done throughout this postseason, Tatum bounced back from a poor offensive showing, pouring in 28 points in Game 2 after being limited to just 12 in the Finals’ opener. Now back on his home floor, expect the three-time All-Star to continue his scoring ways in what should be an electric arena.
In nine games at home this postseason, Tatum has eclipsed his 27.5 points prop five times.
Klay Thompson Under 19.5 Points (-128)
Thompson has struggled in the Finals’ early going, averaging 13 points on 30.3% shooting, including 26.7% from long-range. While he is far too accomplished to continue to shoot this poorly, a road tilt in front of a hostile crowd is not a recipe for success.
Until Thompson begins to show some signs of life, rolling with the under on his 19.5 points prop appears to be the better bet.
NBA Finals Odds at BetMGM
BetMGM is the premier best online sportsbook for NBA Finals betting throughout the year. From offseason NBA championship futures to spreads, parlays, and player props during the championship series, there are a variety of NBA Finals odds to pick from.
