The Boston Celtics (7-1) host the Dallas Mavericks (6-3) Monday at TD Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Mavericks-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Mavericks at Celtics: Key injuries
Celtics
- SF Gordon Hayward (hand) out
- C Enes Kanter (knee) questionable
Mavericks at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Celtics 108, Mavericks 102
Moneyline (ML)
The Celtics come into Monday 3-0 at home and winners of seven straight games overall. They return to TD Garden after sweeping a three-game road swing, finishing it off with a 135-115 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Texas. Boston outscores the opposition by a league-best 9.3 points per game (113.1-103.8).
The Mavs are a perfect 4-0 on the road to start the year. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies 138-122 on the road Saturday after being upset 106-102 by the New York Knicks the night before on home court. Mavericks SG Luka Doncic has led his team in scoring seven of nine games and each of the last five. Boston had four different leading scorers over its last four games.
Roll with the CELTICS (-167) as they go for eight in a row in their return home.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Boston to win outright returns a profit of $6.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Get better value on the Celtics with the spread. Backing BOSTON to cover the modest -3.5 points at -115 odds returns a profit of $8.70 should it win by at least four points.
The Celtics are 5-2 against the spread on the year and 2-1 at home. The Mavs are 4-0 ATS on the road but oddly just 4-5 overall. All but one of Boston’s seven wins have come by margins greater than four points.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Mavericks are 7-2 against the Over/Under and top the projected total by an average of 10.6 points per game. The Celtics are just 3-5 against the projections by they still top the number by an average of 0.2 points per game. Their 250 combined points with the Spurs Saturday were a season-high.
Take the UNDER 217.5 (-115). It’s a slightly contrarian play, but Boston and Dallas rank 17th and 19th, respectively, in pace. The Celtics average 102.56 possessions per game to the Mavs’ 101.93.
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Esten’s NBA betting record: 28-22
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