NBA Finals: Mavericks vs Celtics Game 1 Predictions & Best Bets

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We’re finally entering the final stretch of the 2023-24 basketball season as the 2024 NBA Finals begin on Thursday. There’s a ton of excitement in the air as the Dallas Mavericks get ready to take on the Boston Celtics for a Game 1 showdown at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Both sides finished their respective conference finals matchup quickly. The Mavericks only needed five games to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves while the Celtics breezed by the Indiana Pacers in a four-game sweep. Who’ll keep the momentum going with a victory at TD Garden tonight?

If you’re looking to get into some NBA Finals action, you’ve come to the right place. Buckle up as we begin my Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1 predictions and best bets.

NBA Finals 2024: Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1 Betting (6/6)

Mavericks vs Celtics Game 2 Information

Matchup: Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics (Series tied 0-0)
Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Game Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1: ABC

Celtics vs Mavericks NBA Game 1 Betting Odds & Spread

Celtics vs. Mavericks NBA odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Thursday, June 6 at 9:51 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Mavericks vs Celtics Spread

Dallas Mavericks +6.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110)

Celtics vs Mavericks Over/Under

Over 215.5 Points (-110)
Under 215.5 Points (-110)

Mavericks vs Celtics Moneyline

Dallas Mavericks (+205)
Boston Celtics (-245)

You might also like: NBA Finals 2024: 3 Must-Bet Mavericks vs. Celtics Series Props

NBA Best Bets and Picks Today

Looking to get in on even more NBA picks tonight? Check out our NBA Picks page for consensus picks for every 2023-24 playoff game.

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Mavericks vs Celtics NBA Betting Trends

Dallas is 2-6 straight up in its last eight road games vs. Boston.
Boston is 8-0 straight up in its last eight games vs. the Western Conference.
Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last five road games.
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last six games vs. Dallas.
The total hit the Over in four of Dallas’ last five games as the underdog.
The total hit the Over in six of Boston’s last seven home games.

Mavericks vs Celtics Game 1 Predictions & NBA Picks Today (6/6)

The pressure is officially on with Game 1 of the NBA Finals taking place tonight. For the Mavericks, it’s relatively uncharted territory. The franchise hasn’t been to the Finals in well over a decade, so it’ll be interesting to see how Luka Doncic handles the spotlight while Kyrie Irving’s championship experience will be relied upon.

As for the Celtics, this is their second championship appearance in three years. They failed to get the job done in 2022 when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games, leaving time to tell if they learned anything from that failure.

Boston has had one of the better offenses throughout the current NBA postseason, though. The Celtics rank second in points and third in field-goal percentage while averaging a league-high 14.6 threes made per game. For comparison, the Mavericks rank sixth, fifth, and third in those categories, respectively.

Defensively, Boston is allowing 101.3 PPG on .467/.338/.799 splits while Dallas’ opponents have averaged 103.9 PPG on .445/.356/.785.

The Mavericks and Celtics have played well on both sides of the ball throughout the 2023-24 NBA playoffs.

These teams clashed twice during the regular season, resulting in a Celtics victory both times. Boston earned a 119-110 win in Dallas back in January before blowing the Mavericks out 138-110 at TD Garden on March 1. With those victories, the C’s have now won four consecutive games against the Mavs by an average of 19.8 points.

Additionally, Dallas. has dropped six of its last eight drips to TD Garden and hasn’t won there since December 2021.

The Mavericks also have to deal with the fact that the Celtics will be at full strength as Kristaps Porzingis makes his 2024 postseason debut. The Latvia big man missed the last two rounds of the playoffs with a calf injury after averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals against the Miami Heat in Round 1.

Although Dallas hasn’t ruled anyone out just yet, its lineup isn’t completely healthy. Doncic is dealing with knee and ankle injuries but is expected to play while Olivier-Maxence Prosper is questionable with a knee issue.

Will Kristaps Porzingis’ return give the Celtics an edge tonight?

With Game 1 looming, I’m taking the Celtics to win tonight. They began each of their first three series with a victory and I see that trend continuing at TD Garden, where they’ve been near-unstoppable since the beginning of the season. Considering how Boston just blew Dallas out by 28 points at home a few months ago, I’d say the visitors are dealing with an uphill battle they won’t win.

Let’s also take the Celtics to cover the spread. After all, Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last six games against Dallas, which includes covering in both of their regular-season meetings. The Celtics are also 17-12-1 ATS (58.6%, 4th) in inter-conference matchups this year whereas the Mavericks are only 16-14 ATS (53.3%, T-9th) in that regard.

Given that Boston has beaten Dallas by nearly 20 points on average over the last two years, I like the home team’s odds to cover.

Mavericks vs Celtics NBA Finals Game 1 Prediction: BOS wins

Best Mavericks vs Celtics NBA Bet: BOS -6.5 (-110)

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Best Mavericks vs Celtics NBA Game 1 Prop Bet (6/6)

Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals is littered with solid Mavericks vs. Celtics player props, including Jayson Tatum o2.5 threes made (-132).

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Although his three-point shooting has been up and down throughout the playoffs, Tatum has finished with the Over on this prop in three of his last four games, averaging 2.8 3PM along the way. He’s 8-for-21 (38.1%) from deep in his last two outings and looks to continue that trend against the Mavericks, who he sank five three-pointers against back in March.

Having now hit the Over in two of his last three home games against the Mavericks, I expect Tatum to have another productive perimeter performance.

Best Mavericks vs Celtics NBA Finals Game 1 Prop Bet: Jayson Tatum o2.5 Threes Made (-132)

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NBA Finals 2023-24 FAQ

When are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

The 2023-24 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 6, and should be wrapped up by Sunday, June 23.

Where are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?

The 2023-24 NBA Finals will be played at TD Garden (Boston) and American Airlines Center (Dallas).

How can I watch the 2023-24 Finals?

Every game of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be airing exclusively on ABC.

Where can I bet on the 2023-24 Finals?

Basketball bettors can wager on this year’s NBA Championship and Finals MVP odds on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends: