The Golden State Warriors have played the spoilers against the Boston Celtics several times since last season, but can they continue their mastery of Jayson Tatum and company this Friday? The Celtics are on a roll and would love to victimize the team that took them down in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Catch this game live on Friday, January 20, at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Golden State Warriors (22-22/5-17 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Stephen Curry
• SG: Klay Thompson (DTD)
• SF: Andrew Wiggins
• PF: Draymond Green
• C: Kevon Looney

Despite missing Klay Thompson (rest), the Warriors got the job done last Tuesday, as they defeated the Washington Wizards on the road, 127-118. Golden State isn’t really known to be a good team when playing in enemy territory, but it’s already got two wins in the first three games of their current five-game road trip. 

Thompson is expected to return to action this Friday, and that should be a huge boost for the Warriors. After all, he went off for a game-high 34 points on 14/26 shooting with four triples in a 123-107 home win against Boston last December. Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole are also coming off scintillating performances, scoring 41 and 32 points, respectively, in the win over Washington. Golden State will pretty have much all its best offensive weapons in this rematch versus the Celtics. On the season, the Warriors are fifth in the NBA with 117.5 points per game and fifth as well with a 56.3 eFG%.

The Warriors are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall. 

Home: Boston Celtics (33-12/17-5 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Marcus Smart
• SG: Derrick White
• SF: Jaylen Brown 
• PF: Jayson Tatum
• C: Al Horford

After two full days of rest, the Celtics will have enough energy to be a massive headache for Golden State. Boston is on cruise control, having won seven games in a row heading into this rematch versus the Warriors. The Celtics have beaten the likes of the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, and Brooklyn Nets during that stretch and are coming back-to-back victories over the Charlotte Hornets. Boston scored 252 points in those wins over the Hornets.  

Jayson Tatum terrorized the Hornets for 51 points in a 130-118 victory last Tuesday, and who’s to say he can’t beat up Golden State‘s defenders next? Tatum must be so eager to face again the Warriors, who held him to only 18 points on 6/21 shooting in the first meeting, plus Golden State’s defense has been a train wreck lately. Golden State has allowed 120.6 points in their last five games with opponents nailing 40.3% of their 3-point attempts. 

Also take note that Golden State is a mess against the spread when on the road, as the Warriors are just 5-16 ATS in games away from the Bay Area this season.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Celtics (-6.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (236.5) hits the Over.