The Boston Celtics largely dominated the first two games of the NBA Finals at home against the Dallas Mavericks, but perhaps things will change with the series shifting to Big D on Wednesday for Game 3 and the Mavs are short favorites. Check out 2024 NBA Finals odds, analysis, and a free pick for Game 3 between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.

Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks 2024 NBA Finals Game 3 Info

The Celtics have locked in defensively to take a 2-0 series lead! ☘️

The #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV continue with Game 3 Wednesday at 8:30pm/et on ABC. pic.twitter.com/ra70gU49iM

— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2024

• When: Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, 8:30 PM ET
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• TV: ABC, ESPN
• Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Celtics) // KESN-FM 103.3 (Mavericks)
• Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Odds: Celtics (+1.5) // Mavericks (-1.5)

Why bet on the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics followed a 107-89 home win in Game 1 with a 105-98 victory in Game 2 to get halfway to their NBA-record 18th title and first since 2008. Jrue Holiday led the team in scoring with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Game 2 on Sunday. He led the game in rebounds with a playoff career-high-tying 11 boards and handed out three assists. And his fingerprints were all over Boston’s defensive effort of holding Dallas’ high-powered offense to fewer than 100 points for the second straight game.

“He was unbelievable,” said teammate Al Horford. “His effort defensively and everything he brings on that end. And then on offense, making reads, making the game easy, making the right decisions. He’s so poised, and you can tell that he has been in these types of moments. Just very composed and just out there getting the job done.”

Holiday had to step up as star Jayson Tatum was just 6-for-22 from the field for 18 points, although he added 12 assists and nine rebounds. Tatum became the third player in team history to record at least 18 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists in an NBA Finals game, joining two franchise legends in Larry Bird and Bob Cousy.

Jaylen Brown accumulated 21 points, seven assists, four boards and three steals. He has now shot 50% or better from the field in six straight and seven of the Celtics’ last eight playoff games, picking up the slack for the slumping Tatum.

Why bet on the Dallas Mavericks?

Center Kristaps Porzingis has played in both games so far after missing the previous two rounds injured, but is in some possible question for Wednesday as he appeared to tweak the injury late in Game 1 – although he expects to be on the court as the series shifts to Dallas for Game 3. Porzingis, who missed more than five weeks with a calf strain, appeared to tweak the same leg late in the fourth quarter Sunday. He played for a couple more possessions before checking out with 4:40 to go in favor of Horford, and remained on the bench for the rest of the game.

Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, for his third triple-double across his last six playoff appearances. While he did record his seventh triple-double of these playoffs, it was not the Mavericks’ star’s cleanest performance. In addition to shooting 4-of-8 from the foul line, Doncic was responsible for eight of Dallas’ 15 turnovers. And he did a lot of his damage in the first half, shooting just 3-of-8 from the field after halftime.

There are a lot of reasons why Dallas didn’t have much of a chance in either of the first two games, but a big one is the struggles of Kyrie Irving. The former Celtic scored 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting in Sunday’s loss, finishing with fewer points than field goal attempts for the second straight game. Irving, who scored 30 or more points in three of the Mavericks’ four wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals, is averaging 15 points on 37.1% shooting in the NBA Finals. He has yet to make a three-pointer (0-for-8).

In addition, rookie center Dereck Lively, who had been so integral in these playoffs, has largely vanished. He has totaled just four points, 12 rebounds, one assist and one steal with no blocks and four turnovers. Dallas has tried more Maxi Kleber minutes to combat the Celtics’ floor spacing, but the results have not worked.

The Mavericks have gotten virtually nothing from their depth, which was a strength much of the season and in the playoffs. They got just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting from reserves Lively, Maxi Kleber, Josh Green and Dante Exum on Sunday. The only three-pointer they made was from Exum. The others were 0-for-5. Boston outscored the Mavericks 17-9 off the bench and they have a distinct advantage since Porzingis is filling the sixth-man role so far. This will be Porzingis’ first game back in Dallas since being traded by the Mavs in 2022 to Washington.

Celtics vs. Mavericks Betting Trends

• Boston is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 games against Dallas.
• Celtics are 9-0 SU in its last 9 games.
• The total went under in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas.
• Dallas is 13-7 ATS in the last 20 games when playing as the favourite.
• Mavericks are 12-6 SU in its last 18 games.
• The total went under in 4 of Dallas’ last 5 games against Boston.

Celtics vs. Mavericks 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 3 Prediction

With the pressure that’s growing for Dallas, the home team factor will definitely come into play. But will it be enough to scare Boston? I don’t think so. I’m going for the Celtics taking the win in Game 3.

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