The Boston Celtics have long been the heavy favorites to win the 2024 NBA Finals, and thus far they have delivered with a dominant playoff run. Their opportunity to finish the job starts on Thursday as they meet the surging Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series. The top-seeded Celtics coasted through the Eastern Conference with little resistance, even though their sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals featured three close games and one overtime contest. They are still favored to prevail against a Mavericks club that broke through the Western Conference playoffs as a No. 6 seed behind a dominant showing from their backcourt.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden. Boston is a 6.5-point favorite and the over/under for total points scored is 216.5 in the latest Celtics vs. Mavericks odds from the SportsLine consensus. Before making any Mavericks vs. Celtics picks for Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, be sure to check out what legendary handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.
Marshall, who for years was synonymous with the Gold Sheet, a famed sports betting newsletter, is an in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country. Marshall's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets.
He has won various handicapping titles and also has emerged as a top analyst for SportsLine. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 196-144 run that has returned more than $3,800 for $100 players. Anyone following him already has seen massive returns.
Now, he has set his sights on Mavericks vs. Celtics and locked in his picks and NBA Finals predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are severalNBA oddsand betting lines for Celtics vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Celtics point spread: Celtics -6.5
- Mavericks vs. Celtics over/under: 216.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -250, Mavs +200
- DAL: The Mavericks are 11-6 against the spread in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
- BOS: The Celtics are 31-23-3 ATS as a favorite of 6.5 or more points this season.
- Mavericks vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
The Celtics already stood to have a significant depth advantage over the Mavericks in the NBA Finals, but that gap stands to perhaps get even wider with the anticipated return of versatile big man Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis was injured late in Boston's first-round series against the Miami Heat and was projected to return during the conference finals. But when the Celtics took control of that series, they chose to take a risk-averse approach and give the seventh-year pro even more rest ahead of the NBA Finals.
According to numerous reports, Porzingis has participated in multiple full-contact scrimmages in recent practices ahead of Game 1 and is on track to return to live action. Whether he resumes his role as a starter remains to be seen, but he emerged as one of Boston's most important pieces throughout the season. Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 57 regular-season games.See which team to pick here.
Why the Mavericks can cover
Small forward Derrick Jones Jr. has evolved from a capable role player into a clutch playoff performer who is becoming known not only as a capable defensive stopper but also a consistent offensive player who has made some key shots in tight games. It's quite an accomplishment for a journeyman player who nearly didn't have a job this season. Jones declined a $3.4 million player option from Chicago after last season, upon finding minimal interest in the free-agent market, eventually signed with the Mavericks on a $2.7 million deal and no guarantee of a steady role from coach Jason Kidd.
Jones, who made a brief appearance for the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals, ended up starting 83 of Dallas' total 99 games this season, including all 17 playoff contests. The 27-year-old previously started 103 games combined at his four prior stops across seven full seasons. Jones told the media this week that his tireless work ethic and fearless approach ended up paying dividends this season. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is averaging nearly a triple-double in the postseason, with averages of 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists. Kyrie Irving is putting up 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in the playoffs.See which team to pick here.
How to make Celtics vs. Mavericks picks
Marshall is leaning Over on the point total. He has also identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Mavericks vs. Celtics in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Mavericks spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned more than $3,800 on his NBA picks this season, and find out.
