A 2024 NBA Finals primetime affair between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics goes down in Game 3 on Wednesday evening. The Celtics are looking to go up 3-0 for the second straight series, while Dallas is down 0-2 for the first time in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Celtics have beaten the Mavericks four times in a row dating back to the regular season. Kristaps Porzingis (lower leg) is questionable for Dallas.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavs are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Mavericks odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 213.5. Before locking in any Mavericks vs. Celtics picks for the 2024 NBA Finals, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered the 2024 NBA Finals on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Mavs and just locked in its picks and NBA Finals predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Mavs vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Mavericks spread: Dallas -2.5
- Celtics vs. Mavericks over/under: 213.5 points
- Celtics vs. Mavericks money line: Dallas -149, Boston +126
- BOS: The Boston Celtics have hit the 4Q Under in 30 of their last 41 away games
- DAL: The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Under in 26 of their last 38 games at home
- Celtics vs. Mavericks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
The entire Mavs offense is run through guard Luka Doncic. Doncic has such a high basketball IQ with a reliable perimeter jumper to space the floor. The five-time All-Star ranks first on the team in scoring (29), rebounds (9.7), assists (8.5), and steals (1.8) in the postseason. In his last outing, Doncic finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Center Daniel Gafford provides Dallas with an athletic and bouncy scorer in the lane. Gafford can finish through contact and is always a threat for lobs. The Arkansas product is logging 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the 2024 NBA playoffs. In Game 2, he racked up 13 points, nine rebounds, and went 6-of-9 from the floor. See which team to pick here.
Why the Celtics can cover
Guard Derrick White is a two-way impact player who contributes across the board for Boston. After making his second All-Defensive team in the 2023-24 season, White is averaging 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in the Finals, to go along with 16.5 points. He is a big reason for Irving's struggles from the field, and White is also knocking down 40.4% of his 3-point attempts in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
Center Al Horford is a veteran contributor who is able to stretch the floor due to his perimeter jumper, and he fights on the glass. The 38-year-old has scored in double figures in six matchups this postseason. In Game 1, he notched 10 points, seven boards, and made two 3-pointers. See which team to pick here.
How to make Mavericks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 212 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the model's NBA playoff picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Mavericks, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is 94-61 on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
