Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals Game 1 Odds, Prediction & Pick
Mavericks vs. Celtics Odds
| Mavericks Odds | +6.5 |
| Celtics Odds | -6.5 |
| Over/Under | 215 |
| Date | Thu, Jun. 6 |
| Time | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics will play Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC from the TD Garden.
Basketball fans will be treated to a star-studded showdown for the next couple of weeks, with names such as Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday all playing in the championship round. Most importantly, everyone is relatively healthy heading into the Finals, which should lead to some high-quality hoops on the biggest stage of the year.
Ahead of tip-off this evening, the Celtics are favored by 6.5 points on the spread. The total is set at over/under 215 points.
Below, we break down the matchup for both teams and offer a free pick for the betting community!
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The Mavericks defeated the Clippers in 6 games, Thunder in 6 games, and Timberwolves in 5 games to reach the NBA Finals. It’s the organization’s first appearance in the championship round since winning the title in 2011.
The Celtics’ road to the Finals included 5 games against the Heat, 5 games against the Cavaliers, and 4 games against the Pacers. Boston is playing in the NBA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years.
Dallas Mavericks Preview
Doncic, Mavericks not getting enough respect for run to Finals?
When Dallas traded for Kyrie Irving last February, the acquisition was met with industry-wide skepticism, which only gained more steam after the Mavericks failed to qualify for the playoffs last season. Many pundits questioned whether or not Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could figure out how to play alongside one another, with both players needing the basketball to be effective.
Dallas wasn’t the most dominant regular season team this past winter either, earning only the 5-seed in the Western Conference, but they still won 50 games, including 25 games on the road. They have turned things up a notch in the postseason, winning 3 consecutive series when listed as an underdog. They will try to make it 4 consecutive series upsets in the NBA Finals, with Boston listed as a heavy -210 favorite to win the championship.
Dallas hoping to continue winning ways on the road
Dallas is an impressive 7-2 on the road during these playoffs and 32-18 on the road counting the regular season. Since the beginning of March, the Mavericks are 16-6 playing in enemy territory.
A significant portion of their success can be attributed to their newfound ability to get stops on a consistent basis. During their final 13 regular season road games, the Mavericks were a top-9 defense, allowing only 110.7 points per 100 possessions. They’ve been even better during the postseason, with only the Magic, Thunder, and Celtics allowing fewer points per 100 possessions.
This is a group that has proven themselves capable of winning in any arena.
Boston Celtics Preview
Playing for Banner 18
Entering play on Thursday, the Celtics’ organization has 17 championship banners, tied with the Lakers for the most in the history of the NBA. Over the course of the next few weeks, Boston will have an opportunity to take sole possession of the lead, with home-court advantage in this year’s Finals.
Home court has been huge for Boston this season. They went 37-4 at home during the regular season, outscoring their opponents by a league-best 15.5 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics have been slightly less dominant at home during the postseason, but they have still won 6 of their last 8 games at TD Garden, with a +10.4 Net Rating.
Jayson Tatum and company have everything they need in front of them to finish the job.
Can Boston make enough shots to beat Dallas?
During the playoffs, the Celtics have attempted more 3-point attempts per game than any other team in the NBA – and it’s not particularly close. Though Boston has plenty of capable shooters, it’s worth noting that perimeter shooting can be a volatile business, especially against quality defenses.
The Mavericks have done a reasonably good job limiting such attempts through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, but they are yet to face a team that consistently launches from deep the way Boston does. This will be an area to watch tonight in Game 1 and going forward.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics Prediction
On the surface, it’s hard to bet against Boston at home, where they are 43-6 this season. Yet, it’s too tough to bet against Luka Doncic and company right now. In 17 playoff games, Dallas is 12-5, with 3 of their 5 losses coming by 5 points or fewer.
This is likely to be a more competitive matchup than the market is currently suggesting, with 6 or 7 games far more likely than 4 or 5 games between these two teams. Dallas is live as an underdog this evening – they are more than capable of keeping this game close into the closing minutes, at a minimum.
- PICK: Mavericks +6.5, -110 DraftKings
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