What to know about Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors in 2022 NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors face off in the 2022 NBA Finals beginning Thursday.

The series will be a best-of-seven series with the first team to win four games winning the 2022 NBA title.

Here's what to know about the NBA Playoffs series between the Celtics and Warriors.

More: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors picks, predictions, odds: Who wins NBA Finals?

What is the Celtics vs. Warriors schedule?

Here is the schedule for the NBA Finals series between Boston and Golden State (all games on ABC, all times MST):

• Game 1: Thursday, June 2: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, 6 p.m.

• Game 2: Sunday, June 5: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, 5 p.m.

• Game 3: Wednesday, June 8: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics, 6 p.m.

• Game 4: Friday, June 10: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics, 6 p.m.

• Game 5: Monday, June 13: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

• Game 6: Thursday, June 16: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

• Game 7: Sunday, June 19: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, 5 p.m. (If necessary)

How did season series between Celtics and Warriors go?

The teams split the season series with both teams winning on the road.

The Warriors beat the Celtics in Boston on Dec. 17, 111-107.

The Celtics beat the Warriors in San Francisco on March 16, 110-88.

Steph Curry had 30 points in the first game of the season series to lead the Warriors. Jayson Tatum had 27 points for the Celtics.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown each had 26 for Boston in the second game. Curry injured his left foot in the contest and missed the rest of the regular season before returning for the playoffs.

More: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors 2022 NBA Finals schedule, TV info., how to watch

How did the Warriors make the NBA Finals?

Golden State, the No. 3 seed in the West, drew Denver in the opening round and made short work of the Nuggets, dispatching them in five games.

Then it was on to the conference semifinals against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, which the Warriors won in six games.

The Warriors then made quick work against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals, winning the series in five games.

Golden State is 12-4 through three rounds of the playoffs.

How did the Celtics make the NBA Finals?

Boston, the No. 2 seed in the East, defeated  the Brooklyn Nets in the first round in four games, coasting into the second round.

It's next two rounds were anything but easy, however, as the Celtics prevailed in seven games in its series against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals and in seven games in its series against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boston is 12-6 through three rounds of the playoffs.

More: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors picks, predictions: Who wins NBA Finals Game 1?

Warriors vs. Celtics in NBA playoffs

This is the fifth all-time matchup between the Celtics and Warriors in the NBA Playoffs and the first since the 1964 NBA Finals, which Boston won in five games.

These teams also met in the 1962, 1960 and 1958 East Division finals, which were all won by Boston (4-3 in 1962, 4-2 in 1960 and 4-1 in 1958).

Key matchup in Celtics vs. Warriors series

Boston has the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in Marcus Smart and Golden State has perhaps the NBA's best offensive player in Steph Curry.

Curry is averaging 25.9 points per game in the playoffs, on 45% shooting from the field and 38% shooting from 3-point range.

Can Smart and company contain Curry?

The answer to that question will go a long way in potentially determining the outcome of the series.

More: NBA Playoffs odds: Money lines, point spreads, over/unders for 2022 NBA postseason games

What the odds say for Celtics vs. Warriors

Tipico Sportsbook has the Warriors at -160 to win the series and the Celtics at +125.

As for the result of the series, it has Golden State winning in seven games at +350, followed by the Warriors winning in five games and the Celtics winning in six games each at +450.

More: NBA Playoffs schedule, TV information: How to watch 2022 NBA postseason

The Warriors are +500 to win in six games. The Celtics are +600 to win in seven games.

It has Boston at +900 to win in five games and Golden State +1200 to sweep Boston.

Boston is +1500 to sweep Golden State.

Predictions for Celtics vs. Warriors in NBA Finals

NBA writers appear split on the result of the series, according to some early predictions for the NBA Finals, but they do agree on one thing: They all have the series going at least six games.

The Warriors have homecourt advantage because they had a better record than the Celtics in the regular season.

Does that give Golden State an edge if there is a Game 7 in San Francisco?

Interestingly, fivethirtyeight.com gives Boston an 80% chance of winning the finals in its prediction for the series.

theringer.com gives the Celtics a 61% chance at the title.

Several writers, however, are going with the Warriors to win the series in six or seven games.

What do you think the outcome of the series will be?

More NBA

Check out Dana Scott's series of stories on Phoenix Suns coaches whose legacies left the greatest impact on the franchise:

—Jerry Colangelo: Monty Williams already among Suns' most influential coaches

—Cotton, MacLeod instrumental in building early winning culture

—Stars aligned when Mike D'Antoni was coach

—Paul Westphal gave players 'freedom to play'

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors in NBA Finals: What to know