Maddie Meyer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks: NBA Finals – Game 3
The Dallas Mavericks are hoping to keep their chances in the NBA Finals when they host the Boston Celtics tonight at the American Airlines Center.
The Celtics are on the right track
The Boston Celtics are in a great situation after winning the first two games in the series. They blew out the Mavs in the series opener and managed to take a 2-0 lead with a 105-98 win in Game 2. Jrue Holiday led the way with 26 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 11 of 14 from the field. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, and Jayson Tatum and Derrick White added 18 points each. Tatum is the best Celtics player in the playoffs, averaging 24.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Can the Mavs hold on in the series?
The Dallas Mavericks lost the opening games of the first two playoff series this season, but were always two games down. They did not play well in the series opener but were much better in the second, still not good enough to win. They made only six of 26 three-point attempts, which has a lot to do with the Celtics defense. All five starters scored in double digits for the Mavs, and Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double of 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Slovenian averages 29 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
Betting Trends
The Mavericks are 12-6 SU in their last 18 games overall, 12-4 SU in their last 16 home games, and 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against teams from the Atlantic Division. Dallas is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 games played on Wednesday and 13-7 ATS in the last 20 games as favorites. They have played under the total point line in 4 of their last 5 games against Boston, 4 of the last 5 home games against them, and 6 of their last 7 games against teams from the Eastern Conference. Boston is 9-0 SU in their last 9 games overall, 6-0 SU in their last 6 games against Dallas, 6-0 SU in their last 6 games on the road, 10-0 SU in their last 10 games against teams from the Western Conference, and 4-0 SU in their last 4 games against teams from the Southwest Division. The Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six games against the Mavs and 4-0-1 ATS in the last five games against teams from the Southwest Division. They have played under the total point line in their last five games played in June.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Dallas Mavericks are with their backs against the wall going into Game 3 of the NBA Finals series. They are 2-0 down and will have to win this one in order to keep their chances of winning the championship, knowing that no team in NBA history has ever returned from a 3-0 deficit. The Mavs are quite good at home, but the Celtics lost only two games in the playoffs, and none of those came on the road. Kristaps Porzingis will miss this game and is most likely out for the season, which is something that may hurt the Celtics. Boston is the better team, but the Mavs will leave everything on the court in this one, which will be enough to win the game and cut the deficit to 2-1.
