The Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors will meet in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Francisco on Monday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds coverage with a Celtics-Warriors Game 5 prediction and pick.

 

The Warriors defeated the Celtics 107-97 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at the TD Garden in Boston. It was a game where the Celtics led 54-49 at halftime. Then, the Warriors emerged with a sensational second half to take control of the game. They also implemented a stellar defensive fourth quarter which turned a one-point lead into a 10-point win. 

Steph Curry had 43 points on 14 of 26 shooting. Moreover, he shot 7 for 14 from beyond the arc and pulled down 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson helped with 18 points on 7 for 17 shooting. Additionally, he made 4 of 10 from the triples. Andrew Wiggins came through with 17 points and 16 rebounds to shine on. 

Jayson Tatum was the leader for the Celtics, scoring 23 points. However, he struggled from the field, shooting 8 for 23. Jaylen Brown was not much better, scoring 21 points on 9 of 19 shooting. Likewise, Marcus Smart had 18 points on 7 of 18 shooting. 

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Celtics-Warriors odds:

NBA odds: Celtics-Warriors Odds

Celtics: +4 (-112)

Warriors: -4 (-108)

Over: 212 (-110)

Under: 212 (-110)

*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)

Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread

The Celtics have not lost two in a row in these NBA playoffs yet. They swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and avoided two losses in a row against the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, they avoided it again against the Miami Heat. The Warriors took Games 2 and 4. If the Warriors want to win this series, they will have to take a second consecutive game. It has not happened yet against the Celtics. 

Rebounding was the one category that the Celtics got dominated on in Game 4. Robert Williams III and Al Horford usually cover the Celtics here. However, their 18 combined rebounds did little to affect the outcome of the game. Moreover, they were unable to limit the chances Golden State had. The Warriors produced 16 offensive rebounds, which gave them more opportunities to generate second-chance points.

The Celtics converted 73.7 percent of their free throws. It is not a good mark for a team attempting to win an NBA Finals game. Likewise, it was especially bad considering they were the home team. Tatum went 3 for 5 from the charity line while Brown and Williams each went 1 for 2. Boston must convert its free throw attempts if it wants to control the outcome of the game. 

The Celtics shot 40 percent from the field. Their stars struggled to get the perfect shot off, and it is something they must amend quickly to avoid going down 3-2. Tatum, Brown, and Smart must produce better on their chances, and convert their shot attempts. The Celtics will cover the spread if they can win the battle on the boards. Additionally, they cover if they can convert their field goal and free throw attempts. Those were both categories they struggled in and something they need to fix to have a chance to force a close-out game. 

Why The Warriors Could Cover The Spread

The Warriors did everything correctly in the second half in Game 4. However, it has not always worked out that way. They struggled in the fourth quarter in Game 1 and Game 3. What will the fourth quarter of Game 5 provide? Logically, the Warriors should take care of business. They are at home in Game 5 with the series tied and a chance to wrestle control of a series they have yet to lead. However, the Celtics have been very adept at bouncing back. The Warriors must avoid the letdown. 

It all starts with Curry. He is the anchor that makes the Warriors churn. His brilliant Game 5-performance spoke volumes about his commitment to getting that championship. Curry knows the opportunities will not always be there for another title and must capitalize on them. The Warriors won Game 4 despite struggling to hit their shots from beyond the arc. Despite that, they persevered and won the game based on dominating the other categories. Boston's ability to hit the triples is what sunk Golden State in Game 1 and something that could harm them again if they are not careful. The Warriors must remain vigilant and not allow the Celtics to get any open shots on the perimeter. 

The Warriors will cover the spread if Curry dominates, the rest of the team follows, and they prevent easy shots. Golden State must clamp on Tatum and Brown and force them into bad habits. 

Final Celtics-Warriors Game 5 Prediction & Pick

It is now a best-of-3 series. The team that executes down the stretch will win. Likewise, the Celtics are so good at adapting. They will keep this close. The Warriors may win the game, but the Celtics will not let it end until the very end. Expect the Celtics to cover the spread. 

Final Celtics-Warriors Game 5 Prediction & Pick: Celtics +4