The Dallas Mavericks (24-21) drop by TD Garden Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off with the Boston Celtics (23-24). Below, we analyze the Mavericks-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
This is Dallas’ third game of a five-game road trip and its sixth road game in the last seven contests. The Mavericks are 4-3 straight-up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the last two weeks with their latest game being a 127-106 win at the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday.
Boston began its seven-game homestand with a 115-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans as a 3-point favorite Monday. Over the last two weeks, the Celtics are 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS, including a two-game split with the Milwaukee Bucks March 24 and 26, but they covered the spread in both of those.
The Mavs beat the Celtics 110-107 with a buzz-beater by PG Luka Doncic in their first meeting this season Feb. 23.
Mavericks at Celtics: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Celtics -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Mavericks +1 (-110) | Celtics -1 (-110)
- Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Mavericks at Celtics: Key injuries
Mavericks
- C Willie Cauley-Stein (health and safety protocols) out
- SG JJ Redick (heel) out
Celtics
- SF Jaylen Brown (hip) questionable
- PF Tristan Thompson (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Semi Ojeleye (hip) out
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Mavericks at Celtics: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Mavericks 117, Celtics 109
Money line (ML)
As is the case with every NBA regular-season bet wagered, be sure to wait until closer to tip-off to find out exactly who’s playing because if Brown cannot go for Boston, the MAVERICKS (-105) are the right side.
Dallas has just been a better team since the All-Star break. The last two Mavs’ losses were without Doncic, who has been dynamite this month.
Also, each team’s defense has been terrible this season—the Mavericks are 23rd in defensive rating and the Celtics are 22nd—but Dallas takes better advantage of bad defenses.
According to CleaningTheGlass.com, the Mavs are 7-5 SU with the 2nd-best points per 100 possessions differential and 3rd-best ATS margin vs. the 10 worst-rated defenses in the league while the Celtics are 7-9 SU and have the 27th-ranked ATS margin.
BET MAVERICKS (-105) for 1 unit.
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Against the spread (ATS)
PASS since the money lines and spreads are nearly identical and there are not enough points in either direction for a team to cover.
Over/Under (O/U)
Slight LEAN toward OVER 221.5 (-110) for one-fifth of a unit because Dallas’ offense has scored more on the road than at home this season and Boston is 27th in defensive rating in March.
There’s not a lot of room between my prediction and BetMGM‘s projected total and I’d only put a tiny wager on it.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
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Also see:
- Bet Slippin’ Podcast: 2021 MLB American League Betting Preview
- O’Connor: Celtics ‘among the teams with interest in pursuing a deal for Beal’ (Celtics Wire)
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
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