The Dallas Mavericks face the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, trailing in the best-of-7 series 1-0. Tip-off at TD Garden in Boston is 8 p.m. ET (ABC). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 2 odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Celtics won the series opener on Thursday 107-89. They jumped out to a 17-point 1st-quarter lead and easily covered the 6.5-point spread as home favorites with the Under (216) cashing in. Boston has only lost twice in the postseason.
The Mavericks had only G Luka Doncic score more than 14 points in the game, as he scored 30. G Kyrie Irving shot only 6-for-19 and was 0-for-5 from 3, scoring only 12 points.
Mavericks at Celtics odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:06 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mavericks +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Celtics -255 (bet $255 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Mavericks +6.5 (-114) | Celtics -6.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 214.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Mavericks at Celtics key injuries
Mavericks
- G Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) probable
Celtics
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Mavericks at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 116, Mavericks 107
Moneyline
The Celtics have won 8 straight games in the postseason and F Kristaps Porzingis has returned to the lineup, getting 20 points, 6 boards and 3 blocks in his 1st game since the 1st round of the playoffs.
The Mavs, though, have not lost consecutive games in this postseason, losing Game 1 in their first 2 series and bouncing back with a Game 2 win. However, the Celtics have beaten the Mavs 5 straight times.
Expect the Celtics to take Game 2, but that doesn’t mean you should bet them on the moneyline at -255. That isn’t worth action as a single bet.
PASS.
Against the spread
The Celtics’ last 5 wins over the Mavs are by an average of 19.4 points. However, they are only 3-5 ATS in their 8-game postseason winning streak. Also, Boston is 4-1 ATS with Porzingis in the lineup.
The Mavs have not covered the spread in a loss in the playoffs.
BET CELTICS -6.5 (-106).
Over/Under
The Celtics’ last 2 games have stayed Under the projected total, but they have not had more than 2 consecutive games with the Under hitting since March when it hit 3 times in a row.
Both regular-season matchups had totals of 229 points or more. Also, 5 of the last 7 games for the Mavs have had the Over hit.
BET OVER 214.5 (-110).
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