Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Preview
The Celtics lead the NBA Finals series 3-0 heading into game four, which is set for 8:30 PM ET on Friday, June 14th. The top-seeded Celtics will face the 5th-seeded Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. ABC will televise the game, and the Mavericks are favored by -1 points. The over/under is 211.5 points.
Check out BetCoco for Dallas Mavericks – Boston Celtics odds
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The Celtics have been dominant over the Mavericks, going 5-0 in their last five head to head games. Looking back over the previous three times that the Celtics and Mavericks have faced off, they have combined to average 201 points per game and have an over/under record of 0-3.
- In their last five games away from home, the Celtics have a straight up record of 5-0 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 108 points per game in these contests.
- In their last five home games, Dallas has averaged 105 points per game while allowing 105. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-2 while going 3-1-1 vs. the spread.
- Boston has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
- The last ten games that Dallas was favored, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 6-4 straight up.
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Despite being 3-point underdogs, the Celtics came away with a 106-99 win over the Mavericks in the most recent game of this series. The Celtics were able to cover the spread and also held the Mavericks to just 99 points. Heading into the game, the over/under line was at 213.5 points, and the teams fell 8.5 points short of that number.
Boston took control of the game in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 35-19 in the period. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 31 points, and Jaylen Brown added 30 points. As a team, the Celtics knocked down 17 threes, and Tatum and Brown combined to hit six threes.
This season, the Celtics have been the underdog in just five of their 82 games. As the underdog, they have a record of 3-2. They are currently 1-point underdogs against the Mavericks. In their games as the favorite, the Celtics have gone 76-18 and have been favored in their last nine games.
Boston is 50-44 against the spread this season, including a 23-23 record on the road. Their ATS record as the underdog is also 3-2, and they have covered the spread in their last nine games.
The Celtics have won 10 straight games and finished the regular season with a record of 64-18, which is the best in the Eastern Conference. In games against other Eastern Conference teams, they went 41-11 and 23-7 against the West.
Out of their 82 games this season, 90 of them have had higher over/under lines than today’s line of 211.5. The Celtics’ O/U record for the season is 51-47-1, and the under has hit in their last four games.
In their most recent game against the Mavericks, the Celtics won by a score of 106-99. They covered the spread as 3-point underdogs and the game finished with a combined scoring total of 205 points.
Boston comes into the game as the NBA’s 2nd best scoring team, at 120.6 points per game. Despite their high-scoring average, they have scored below the league average in 42.7% of their games. The Celtics are also the league leaders in both three-point attempts and made threes per game.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been carrying the Celtics’ offense of late, with Tatum averaging 25.4 points per game in his last five and Brown at 25.2. Tatum also averaged 7.6 assists and 9.8 rebounds in that stretch. For the season, Tatum is averaging 26.9 points per game, and Brown is at 23.
When it comes to defense, the Boston Celtics are one of the best in the league. They are currently ranked 3rd in the NBA in points allowed per game at 107.7. This season, opposing teams have struggled to score against the Celtics, as they have held them below their season average in 84.1% of their games.
One of the reasons why Boston has been so good on defense is their ability to protect the rim. They are currently ranked 2nd in the league in blocked shots per game at 6.6. In addition to their shot-blocking, the Celtics are also one of the best teams in the NBA at getting defensive rebounds, as they are currently ranked 1st in that category.
When it comes to defending the three-point line, the Celtics have been solid this season. They are currently ranked 11th in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 34.5%. In terms of three-point attempts allowed per game, Boston is 20th in the league at 35.9.
Dallas is favored by 1 point in today’s game vs. the Celtics. The Mavericks have been favored in 62 of their 82 games this season and have gone 44-18 in those games. As the favorite, they have an ATS record of 38-24, and they have failed to cover the spread in their last two home games.
On average, the Mavericks have outscored their opponents by 3.3 points per game at home. In Western Conference play, they are 31-21 and are currently in 5th place in the standings. Against the Western Conference, they are 19-11 compared to 11-5 against the Southwest Division.
Dallas’ O/U record for the season is 46-56, and their last three games have gone under the posted totals. Today’s O/U line is set at 211.5, which is lower than their season average of 230.5. On average, their games have finished with 228.9 points.
In their most recent game, the Mavericks lost to the Celtics by a score of 106-99. The O/U line for that game was 213.5, and they were favored by 3 points. This loss was their third straight.
Luka Doncic is averaging 30.6 points per game in his last five games on a shooting percentage of 47.9%. In these games, he hit 3.8 threes per game. For the season, he is averaging 33.9 points per game to go along with 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds. The Mavericks are looking for Tim Hardaway Jr. to shoot the ball better from beyond the arc. For the season, he is averaging 14.4 points per game but has hit just 35.3% of his threes.
For the season, the Mavericks are 4th in both three-point attempts and makes. However, they have hit just 36% of their threes, which is 15th in the league. Dallas is 6th in two-point field goal percentage at 56%. Overall, they are 11th in scoring at 117.9 points per game.
When it comes to defense, the Dallas Mavericks have been middle of the pack this season. They are giving up 113.4 points per game, which is 15th in the NBA. At home, they are allowing 113.2 points per game.
Over their last five games, the Mavericks have been even better on the defensive end, allowing just 105.2 points per contest. During this stretch, opponents have made 35.5% of their three-point attempts.
One area where the Mavericks have struggled on defense is steals. They are 26th in the NBA in steals per game at 6.9. However, they have been solid when it comes to blocked shots, ranking 15th in the league.
Despite being 1 point underdogs, we predict the Celtics to come out on top with a final score of 141-131.
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips
- We like the Celtics on the moneyline (-111)
- The Celtics are also our pick on the spread at +1
- Projecting a combined 272 points, we like the over
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
No Injuries Reported
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Kristaps Porzingis – Lower Leg – Questionable
