Boston Celtics - Dallas Mavericks predictions and free betting tips [07/06/2024]

On the morning of June 7, the first match of the NBA finals series will take place: the Boston Celtics will host the Dallas Mavericks. Let's make a prediction for the Boston-Dallas match.

Team Rosters

Boston Celtics: Jrue Holiday - Derrick White - Jaylen Brown - Jayson Tatum - Kristaps Porzingis  

Dallas Mavericks: Kyrie Irving - P.J. Washington - Luka Dončić - Derrick Jones Jr. - Daniel Gafford 

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics, as the best team in the Eastern Conference with a 64-28 record, confidently passed through all three stages of the playoffs almost without injuries. In the first round, the Celtics easily dealt with the Miami Heat with a 4-1 series victory, as Miami played without their leader Jimmy Butler. There were many big wins: on April 20, Boston won 114:94, on April 7 - 104-84, on April 29 - 102:88, and on May 1, Boston routed Miami 118-84. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics easily beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were also without their leader Donovan Mitchell and centre Jarrett Allen in the final matches. There was one loss in the second game and three big victories, just like in the series with the Heat: on May 7, Boston won 120:95, on May 11 - 106:93, on May 13 - 109:102, and on May 15, they won 113:98 and advanced to the finals against the Pacers.  

In the conference finals, Brown, Tatum, and company, despite the absence of the injured Kristaps Porzingis, handled the Indiana Pacers. Each match was incredibly tight, and Boston triumphed thrice in the clutch. Only the third game ended in a rout, with a 126:110 score, where Brown scored 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Tatum added 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. In the last two matches, the results were decided in the final minutes: on May 26, the Boston Celtics won 114-111, and on May 28, they won 105-102. Jaylen Brown scored 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Jayson Tatum in the final game added 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Dončić's team reached the NBA finals for the first time since 2011, when Dirk Nowitzki's team and current coach Jason Kidd, then a veteran point guard, sensationally defeated LeBron James and Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat 4-2 in the series. This time Dallas reached the final no less sensationally. In the first round, they faced the Los Angeles Clippers, losing the first match 97-109 but convincingly closing the last two matches. On May 2, the Dallas Mavericks routed the Los Angeles Clippers 123-93, and on May 3 they won 114:101. In the final match, the leaders were on top: Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and made 4 assists, while Luka Dončić added 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists. In the Western Conference semifinals, Dallas surprisingly defeated the regular season NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 in the series, winning the series in a thrilling finish. On May 18, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 117:116 thanks to two free throws by P.J. Washington after a foul by the Thunder's leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dallas won two matches convincingly: on May 10 with a 119:110 score and on May 16 with a 104-92 score.  

In the conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, few believed in Dallas, but the Mavericks' defence played perfectly, shutting down the Wolves' leaders Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, winning the series 4-1. Dallas won the first three matches in the clutch due to Luka Dončić's three-point heroics and buzzer-beaters, and the last match ended in a rout. Luka Dončić scored 36 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made 5 assists, while Kyrie Irving added 36 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Head-to-Head

In this regular season, the Boston Celtics confidently defeated the Dallas Mavericks twice. In the first match on January 23, Boston was stronger with a 119:110 score. In this game, Jayson Tatum was once again at his best, scoring 39 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and making 5 assists. Jaylen Brown added 34 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Jrue Holiday contributed 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. For the Mavericks, Luka Dončić was the main force with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway added 23 and 20 points respectively.

In the second match on March 2, Boston won with a 138:110 score. In this encounter, the Mavericks' leader was Luka Dončić, who scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and made 11 assists. Kyrie Irving added 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, while P.J. Washington contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum scored 32 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and made 3 assists, Jaylen Brown added 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points and 6 rebounds.

Match Prediction: Boston vs. Dallas

Boston is stronger in every aspect except the number of three-pointers made. Individually, the Tatum-Brown duo is stronger than the Dončić-Irving pair in offence, with personal defence led by Holiday and White being superior. The bench is much better than Dallas', where the Mavericks have only 1-2 options. The return of former Dallas player Porzingis will greatly aid Boston, and I expect a confident victory for the Celtics in the first match.