Mar 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
- The 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics starts on Thursday, June 6
- The Game 1 Mavericks vs Celtics odds heavily favor Boston jumping out to an early lead in the best-of-seven series
- Below see the Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics predictions, player-prop picks, and odds for Game 1
After an improbable run to the Western Conference title as the #5 seed, the Dallas Mavericks (62-37, 32-18 away, 58-41 ATS) face the Eastern Conference #1 seed Boston Celtics (76-20, 43-6 home, 49-43- 4 ATS) in the 2024 NBA Finals starting with Game 1 on Thursday, June 6, at 8:40 pm ET.
The Mavericks vs Celtics odds heavily favor Boston holding serve at home in Game 1.
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | +6.5 (-110) | +190 | O 214.5 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -6.5 (-110) | -230 | U 214.5 (-110) |
The Celtics are currently 6.5-point favorites for Game 1 and -230 on the moneyline. The Mavs come back at +190 to win while the game total is sitting at 214.5.
Dallas is 9-8 over/under in the postseason and has hit the over in five of its past six games. Boston is 8-6 O/U in the postseason and has also gone over in five of its last six.
Odds as of June 5 at DraftKings. Claim a bonus through the best NBA betting apps for the 2024 finals.
The Mavericks won three straight series without home-court advantage en route to the Western Conference championship, downing the #4 LA Clippers in six games, the #1 OKC Thunder in six as well, and the #3 Minnesota Timberwolves in five. Dallas is 11-6 against the spread in the playoffs to date.
Boston hardly broke a sweat on its path to the NBA finals. After dusting aside the #8 Miami Heat and #4 Cleveland Cavaliers in five games each, the Celtics swept the #6 Indiana Pacers in the East finals, benefitting from an injury to Indiana’s All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Dallas vs Boston Game 1 Injury Reports
After a ten-day hiatus, the Boston Celtics enter the 2024 NBA Finals fully healthy. Center Kristaps Porzingis missed the last ten games with a calf injury but the 7’1 center is no longer on the injury report ahead of Game 1 against the Mavericks.
On the Dallas side, Luka Doncic (knee/ankle) remains on the injury report, listed as probable. But take that with a grain of salt. Doncic has been listed as”probable” for the majority of the Mavs playoff games. He hasn’t missed any time and has averaged 28.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 8.8 APG in 41.5 minutes per night (all team-highs).
Maxi Kleber (4.4 PPG, 3.3 APG, 34.8 3P%) missed the entirety of Dallas’ six-game victory over OKC in the second round and the first three games against Minnesota in the West finals, but he returned in Games 4 and 5, scoring five points in 21 minutes over the pair of games. He’s no longer on the Dallas injury report heading into the Boston series.
DAL vs BOS Game 1 Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Horford (BOS) | 6.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov -148| Un +124) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) |
| Daniel Gafford (DAL) | 8.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 5.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | OFF | OFF |
| Dereck Lively II (DAL) | 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 6.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | OFF | OFF |
| Derrick Jones Jr (DAL) | 7.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) | 3.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -185 | Un +154) |
| Derrick White (BOS) | 14.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 3.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 4.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 22.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 6.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 2.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 1.5 (Ov -180 | Un +150) |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 26.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 9.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) | 5.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 2.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) |
| Jrue Holiday (BOS) | 12.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 5.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 4.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 1.5 (Ov -180 | Un +150) |
| Kristaps Porzingis (BOS) | 15.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 6.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) |
| Kyrie Irving (DAL) | 23.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 3.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) | 4.5 (Ov +102 | Un-122) | 2.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) |
| Luka Doncic (DAL) | 31.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 9.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 8.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 3.5 (Ov -170 | Un +142) |
| PJ Washington (DAL) | 11.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 5.5 (Ov -118 Un -102) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -175 | Un +145) |
DAL vs BOS NBA player props from DraftKings on June 5.
After averaging 32.4 PPG in the five-game series win over the T-wolves, Luka Doncic is listed with a game-high point total of 31.5 on Thursday. Tatum has the highest total for the Celtics, per usual, at 26.5.
Mavericks vs Celtics Predictions for Game 1
Boston wasn’t seriously pushed in any of its first three series but it’s sweep of the Pacers was arguably the least convincing sweep in NBA history. Three of the four games were decided by five points or fewer, and the Pacers led in the fourth quarter in three of the four (including nine-point fourth-quarter leads in both Games 3 and 4). If Haliburton had been healthy, the Eastern Conference Finals might have played out very differently.
There’s no denying that the analytics – regular season and postseason – say Boston is the better team. They had an NBA-best in Net Rating of +11.7 in the regular season and once again lead in that category in the playoffs at +10.8. But the Mavericks have made huge strides in the postseason and, with Doncic rested and ready, I expect Dallas to push the Celtics every bit as hard – make that harder – than the Pacers did. And Dallas is considerably better at closing out games than Indiana.
DAL vs BOS Game 1 picks:
- Mavericks moneyline (+190)
- Tatum under 26.5 points (-110)
- Kyrie Irving over 23.5 points (-120)
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.
The highly anticipated matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics is set to take place in Game 1 of their series. Both teams have had successful seasons so far, with the Mavericks boasting a record of 42-29 and the Celtics sitting at 41-30.
As the two teams prepare to face off, let’s take a look at some key factors that could impact the outcome of the game.
Odds: According to sportsbooks, the Mavericks are currently favored to win Game 1, with odds of -150. The Celtics, on the other hand, have odds of +130. This indicates that the Mavericks are seen as the stronger team heading into the matchup.
Predictions: While the odds may favor the Mavericks, it’s important to note that anything can happen in the NBA playoffs. Both teams have talented rosters and have shown that they are capable of pulling off big wins. It’s likely to be a close and competitive game, with both teams fighting hard for the win.
Player Props: Keep an eye on key players from both teams, such as Luka Doncic for the Mavericks and Jayson Tatum for the Celtics. These players have been instrumental in their team’s success this season and will likely play a crucial role in Game 1. Look out for player prop bets related to points scored, rebounds, assists, and more.
Injuries: Injuries can play a significant role in determining the outcome of a game, and both teams have dealt with their fair share of injuries this season. As of now, both teams are relatively healthy heading into Game 1, but it’s always possible that a key player could be sidelined at the last minute. Keep an eye on injury reports leading up to the game for any updates.
Overall, Game 1 between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics is shaping up to be an exciting matchup. With both teams hungry for a win, fans can expect a hard-fought battle on the court. Stay tuned for an action-packed game filled with thrilling moments and intense competition.