Boston is undefeated this postseason when facing elimination.
The Celtics will have to stay that away if they want to overcome their long odds and win the NBA title.
Monday night, for the second straight time in the series, Boston dropped a 10-point decision to Golden State. The latest loss, 104-94 in San Francisco in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, pushed the Celtics to the brink of elimination and the Warriors within a win of the franchise’s seventh title.
Golden State held Boston to 41.3% shooting (and 34.4% from behind the arc) in Game 5, as former No. 1 pick-turned-castaway Andrew Wiggins led all Warriors with 26 points on 12-of-23 shooting.
Boston starts its last stand at home in a game that tips off at 9 p.m. Eastern time Thursday.
There is currently no legal Massachusetts sports betting.
As it sits, Gov. Charlie Baker would sign a bill but has not been presented with one. A legislative committee has been formed to try and work out a sports betting compromise.
It will be a large market in the United States when it does pass.
NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Boston 120, Golden State 108
- Game 2: Golden State 107, Boston 88
- Game 3: Boston 116, Golden State 100
- Game 4: Golden State 107, Boston 97
- Game 5: Golden State 104, Boston 94 (Warriors lead 3-2).
- Game 6: Thursday at Boston, 9 p.m., ABC
- Game 7: Sunday at Golden State, 8 p.m., ABC (if nec.)
Celtics Slight Home Favorites in Game 6
Although it’s a long shot to win the championship, oddsmakers believe in Boston at home in Game 6.
Although BetMGM Massachusetts is not yet live, the Celtics are a 3.5-point favorite on BetMGM in other states, echoing the operators’ lines in Game 4 when the teams last met in Boston.
Sportsbooks had Golden State at +3.5 in a game it would go on to win, 107-97. In Game 6, BetMGM has Boston -165 on the moneyline with an over-under of 210.5 total points.
Boston a Deep Longshot to Win Title
The Warriors have expanded their already massive odds lead in the NBA Finals on BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook.
Golden State has gone from -150 on BetMGM ahead of Game 5 to -400, while improving their odds from -140 to -390 on Caesars Sportsbook.
The Celtics are +310 to win the NBA championship. The Warriors are +135 to win the series in six games and +140 to finish off Boston in seven games.
