The NBA Finals moves to Boston for Game 3 on Tuesday night with the Celtics favored in NBA betting. The NBA Finals have a 2-3-2 format so the next three games in NBA Finals betting will be in Boston. NBA betting odds are shaded more toward the Celtics with the game being in Boston. Home court advantage has been important in the playoffs but it should be noted that the Celtics were not a great home team during the regular season. The Lakers have shown the ability to win on the road so this should be an excellent game on Tuesday night.
The TV ratings for the NBA Finals have been excellent. Game 1 last week got the highest rating since 2004. The numbers for Game 1 were up more than 15% from last season when the Lakers played the Magic. Those ratings were very good even though the game was not competitive. When the Lakers and Celtics play a competitive game, look for the ratings to go much higher.
The games in Boston could be close in NBA Finals betting. The teams have split their last ten meetings in Boston. This season the teams met once in Boston and it was a very close outcome as the Lakers won 90-89. Last season it was just as close as the Lakers pulled out a 110-109 win. Two years ago in the NBA Finals the Lakers did not have much success in Boston as they lost all three games but this is definitely a different Los Angeles team than two years ago.
The Lakers were not a great road team this season but they can win away from home when needed. They lost Games 3 and 4 in Phoenix in the Western Conference Finals but then won Game 6 in Phoenix to clinch the series. During the regular season the Lakers were only 17-23-1 against the spread on the road. The Lakers also went under the total in 23 of their 41 road games during the regular season.
Boston was simply terrible during the regular season at home vs. the point spread but in the playoffs they have turned things around. In the regular season they were just 12-28-1 at home against the spread but in the playoffs they are a very profitable 7-2 against the number.