Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks: Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds (1/5/23)
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The Boston Celtics visit the Dallas Mavericks in a big cross-conference matchup. The Celtics are coming off two straight losses with the last one coming against the Thunder. On the other side, the Mavericks have won seven in a row, with the latest coming against the Rockets. This should be an interesting matchup between two great teams. Let’s take a look at the odds and make some picks and predictions for this game!
Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Odds
The Boston Celtics are 3-point road favorites against the Dallas Mavericks and are -145 on the money line. The over/under is also at 232.5. The Celtics being favored here makes no sense. The Mavericks are on a winning streak, while the Celtics are on a losing streak. Dallas is also the home team. The over/under makes sense because both of these teams are two of the best offensive teams in the entire NBA. This spread should stay where it’s at before tip-off too.
Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks Prediction
The pick: Dallas Mavericks +3
The Mavericks have been on a roll recently and it starts and ends with how Luka Doncic is playing. He’s been a focal point for the Mavericks on offense this year and is leading them in rebounds, assists, and steals on top of points. He’s actually the leading scorer not just for the Mavericks, but also for the entire NBA at 34 points per game. He hasn’t been a one-man show either and has gotten help from Christian Wood, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tim Hardaway Jr. in various ways. Wood is the second-leading scorer for the Mavericks and leads the team in blocks. Dinwiddie has been great as a scorer and a passer and Hardaway has been a great shooter when needed.
As a team, the Mavericks are top-5 in the NBA in points allowed at 110 and are top-10 in the NBA in point differential at +2.3. On the other side, the Celtics need to rebound after losing two straight games. Jayson Tatum is the biggest reason for Boston’s success this year and he leads the Celtics in scoring and rebounding. He also is top-5 in the NBA in scoring at 30.8 points per game. Jaylen Brown is right behind Tatum in scoring and rebounds at 27 points and 7 rebounds per game. These two are Boston’s two stars, but Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart are not far behind them in terms of points scored and importance. Smart also leads the Celtics in assists and steals per game. As a team, The Celtics are the best scoring team in the NBA at 118.6 and the best team in the NBA in point differential at +5.2. They are also top-7 in the NBA in blocks per game. The Mavericks are in a great spot in this game and should cover this number at home. They should even win the game outright.
Betting Trends
Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Mavericks are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
Key Matchups
Can Marcus Smart matchup with Luka Doncic? Can Christian Wood matchup against Al Horford?
Luka Doncic vs. Marcus Smart
Luka Doncic has been unbelievable this year. He’s averaging 34 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds for the year. His matchup for most of this game is the reigning defensive player of the year. Smart averages 11 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds for the year. This will be a great matchup because Smart is the reigning defensive player of the year and he’s going up against Luka Doncic, who’s the MVP front-runner. This matchup will most likely decide the game.
Christian Wood vs. Al Horford
This should be a good battle between big men. Christian Wood is averaging 18 points, 2 assists, and 8 rebounds for the year. His matchup in most of the game will be against Al Horford. He’s averaging 9 points, 3 assists, and 6 rebounds for the year. This battle of big men should be great because of the difference in experience from Wood to Horford. Expect this to be a big determining factor in who wins down low.
Boston Celtics Starting Lineup
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford
Dallas Mavericks Starting Lineups
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Spencer Dinwiddie
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Christian Wood
C: Dwight Powell
Key Injuries
Boston Celtics Injuries: PF Danilo Gallinari (Knee) O
Dallas Mavericks Injuries: SG Josh Green (Elbow) O, PF Dorian Finney-Smith (Hip) O
