Best NBA Betting Odds and Trends for Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals Game 1

June 6, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is upon us, and there’s plenty to get to know before placing your wagers.

If you’re looking for my best bets or the breakdown of Game 1 between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, you can find them here on SI Betting!

Before you place any bets on Game 1, here’s a look at the latest odds and some trends to know for Thursday night’s series opener.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread

Moneyline

Total

Boston Celtics as Home Favorites

There are several key trends to know ahead of Game 1, starting with Boston’s record as a home favorite. The C’s are 26-21-2 against the spread as home favorites this season, winning those games by an average margin of 14.4 points per game.

Boston also has the best against the spread record in the first half of games this season (63-32-1).

Dallas Mavericks on the Road

The Mavericks are an NBA-best 34-16 against the spread on the road, but we can break that down even further.

As a road underdog, Dallas is 14-11 against the spread, which isn’t as great, but it thrived as a road favorite, going 20-5 ATS. Unfortunately, the Mavs are road dogs in Game 1.

Game 1 Favorites Dominate Since 2005

Since 2005 Game 1 favorites are an insane 16-3 against the spread, and going back the past 30 years, they are 21-9 against the spread.

Boston is favored by 6.5 points in Game 1, and it has covered in two of the three opening games of its playoff series.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Find Peter Dewey’s betting record here You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.

7 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Who Has the Most Triple-Doubles in NBA Finals History?

When Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic walks on to a basketball court, he immediately becomes a threat to put up a triple-double.

In six years in the NBA, Doncic has been nothing short of a triple-double machine. He is already tied for eighth all-time in that category with 77—18 more than Hall of Fame forward Larry Bird, and 49 more than Hall of Fame guard Michael Jordan.

As he makes his NBA Finals debut, it's worth looking back at the history of players reaching double figures in three of basketball's five major counting statistics (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) on the sport's biggest stage.

A triple-double, in basketball, is when a player hits three of the following statistical benchmarks in a single game: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocks or 10 steals. Hitting two is a more common double-double, while hitting four is an extraordinarily rare quadruple-double.

The NBA record for most career triple-doubles is held by Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook with 199.

Since the advent of the NBA Finals, 23 players are known to have accomplished the feat, per StatMuse.

PLAYER	NUMBER OF TRIPLE-DOUBLES
LeBron James, Heat/Cavaliers/Lakers	11
Magic Johnson, Lakers	8
Draymond Green, Warriors	3
Larry Bird, Celtics	2
Jimmy Butler, Heat	2
Wilt Chamberlain, 76ers	2
Bob Cousy, Celtics	2
Walt Frazier, Knicks	2
NIkola Jokić, Nuggets	2
Bill Russell, Celtics	2
Charles Barkley, Suns	1
Elgin Baylor, Lakers	1
Dave Cowens, Celtics	1
Stephen Curry, Warriors	1
Tim Duncan, Spurs	1
Kevin Durant, Warriors	1
Jason Kidd, Nets	1
Jamal Murray, Nuggets	1
Scottie Pippen, Bulls	1
Rajon Rondo, Celtics	1
Wes Unseld, Bullets	1
Jerry West, Lakers	1
James Worthy, Lakers	1

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, with 11. James is the only player to accomplish the feat with three different teams, having registered triple-doubles with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers. He is also one of three players, along with ex-Los Angeles guard Jerry West and forward James Worthy, to record a triple-double in Game 7 of the Finals.

James spread his triple-doubles out, too: he recorded one in his much-maligned 2011 Finals, one in the 2012 Finals, two in the 2013 Finals, two in the 2015 Finals, one in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, two in the 2017 Finals, one in the 2018 Finals, and one in the 2020 Finals.

9 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Luka Doncic Injury Downgrade Doesn’t Shift Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 2 Odds

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has been downgraded from probable to questionable (Thoracic Contusion; Right Knee Sprain; Left Ankle Soreness) for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.

Doncic, who played in Game 1 and scored 30 points, has been dealing with ankle and knee injuries since Game 3 of the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Luka Doncic is now listed as questionable for Game 2. He has a thoracic contusion in addition to the right knee sprain and left ankle soreness he has been playing through.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 9, 2024

Despite the injuries, Doncic has been effective for most of the playoffs, dominating in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Even with Doncic listed as questionable, oddsmakers have not moved the odds in Boston's favor for Game 2.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread

Moneyline

Total

This is a very similar line to the one we saw in Game 1 of this series, in fact it had reach Dallas +7 at points this week.

So, Doncic's injury appears to have no impact on the current spread, which is a sign that oddsmakers expect him to suit up and play in Game 2.

Doncic apparently was grabbing at his chest/rib area during the Mavs' practice ahead of Game 2.

Luka Doncic has been grabbing at his chest/rib area and kind of grimacing here at Mavs practice before Game 2 pic.twitter.com/jqg3xVUpNJ
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 8, 2024

This injury designation could just be gamesmanship by the Mavs, but it's certainly a little concerning to see Doncic downgraded before the biggest game of the season to date.

Dallas has been solid in the playoffs and this season as a road underdog, going 14-12 against the spread overall. If Doncic ends up getting ruled out, this spread would skyrocket in favor of Boston, but for now it appears he will at least try to give it a go based on these odds.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Jayson Tatum Had Deep Message About Toughness After Celtics Eliminated Heat

After ending the Miami Heat's season with a 118-84 victory in Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics are on to the second round where they'll face the winner of the first round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.

The ultimate outcome of Boston moving on to the second round past the shorthanded Heat was expected, but after the Celtics lost Game 2 of the series in stunning fashion, critics bashed the toughness of this Celtics' core, led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Why did the Celtics lose to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals? Fans and media critics pointed to Boston's lack of toughness.

Why did the Celtics lose to the Miami Heat in seven games in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals? Fans and media critics once again pointed to Boston's lack of toughness.

So with fans and media questioning Boston's toughness earlier in the series, did it get to Tatum at all? Don't count on it.

"No, I think [in] the world we live in, it's gotta be something wrong with every team," Tatum told the media Wednesday night. "That's what they like to say. You can see how talented we are. I think it's lazy, or easy, to say that teams can out-tough us, right? I never understood that. What's the definition of tough? Having louder guys on your team? That s--- don't make you tough. Everybody has their own definition of what toughness is. It's playing the right way, showing up every day to do your job without complaining. I think that's being tough."

Tatum: "What’s the definition of tough? Having the louder guys on your team? That shit don’t make you tough. Everybody has their own definition of what toughness is. It’s playing the right way, showing up every day to do your job without complaining. I think that's being tough.” pic.twitter.com/SRzn1vdA6x
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) May 2, 2024

Whether Tatum likes it or not, the Celtics have had their fair share of head-scratching losses with their young superstar core over the past few postseasons, and in many cases, those losses have kept Boston from reaching its ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.

The Celtics are hoping to break that trend with a title later this summer.

US Sports News

Best NBA Betting Odds and Trends for Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals Game 1

Boston Celtics as Home Favorites

Dallas Mavericks on the Road

Game 1 Favorites Dominate Since 2005

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Jimm Sallivan