In search of their first championship since 2007-08, the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, and we're breaking down our top Mavericks vs. Celtics player props based on the best NBA odds.
This year's NBA Finals set the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics, on a collision course with the best player this postseason, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. It's the perfect way to crown the league champion, with Game 1 of the series tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) on Thursday from TD Garden in Boston.
The Celtics have been atop the NBA championship odds all season long and are 6.5-point home favorites in the opening game of the NBA Finals. Boston has a loaded roster, which we highlighted in our NBA Finals odds & betting preview, but the C's will have to try and stop Doncic, who has shot up the NBA Finals MVP odds in recent weeks.
Along with our NBA Finals expert picks and Mavericks vs. Celtics parlay, here are our best Mavericks vs. Celtics player props and NBA picks (odds via our best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1 player props
- Jayson Tatum Over 15.5 rebounds + assists (-105 via DraftKings) ????
- Luka Doncic Over 40.5 points + assists (-108 via FanDuel) ????
- Kyrie Irving Under 31.5 points + rebounds + assists (+102 via DraftKings) ???
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Mavericks vs. Celtics prop bet predictions for Thursday
No matter how Game 1 of the NBA Finals goes for Jayson Tatum, there's bound to be a segment on First Take debating whether it's really Jaylen Brown's team or if Tatum lacks the killer instinct of legends like M.J. or Kobe.
Without Tatum, Boston wouldn't be in the Finals or have a 12-2 playoff record. This postseason, the 26-year-old has excelled by allowing others to shine while focusing on dominating the glass. Not only is he Boston's leading scorer, but he also tops the team in rebounds (10.4) and assists per game (5.9).
In 14 playoff games this year, he's recorded at least 16 combined rebounds and assists 10 times. Dallas has allowed opposing power forwards to average 15.36 combined rebounds and assists per game this season.
According to our odds converter, these odds imply a 51.22% win probability, with a $10 bet paying a $9.52 profit.
Best odds: -105 via DraftKings
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“You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.”
Few players embody Dan Patrick's old adage as perfectly as Doncic. Even when struggling with a knee injury earlier in the playoffs, Doncic put up All-Star numbers.
Boston boasts the NBA's third-ranked defense (111.6), but coach Joe Mazzulla knows that Doncic will get his stats. With his revitalized 3-point shooting, smooth mid-range game, and unstoppable lob passes, expect a big Game 1 from the Mavericks star.
Against the top-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic averaged a combined 40.6 points and assists, surpassing 40.5 in three of five games. These odds imply a 51.92% probability he hits the Over, with a winning $10 bet paying out $19.26.
Best odds: -108 via FanDuel
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Few cities harbor as much animosity for players as Boston, and few players have earned their ire like Kyrie Irving. Not only did he leave after promising to stay and forming a “super team” in Brooklyn, but he also stomped on Lucky the Leprechaun at half-court upon his return, and flipped off the Boston crowd.
The added drama of Kyrie vs. Boston makes these NBA Finals even more thrilling. However, despite his strong performance in the Western Conference Finals, I expect Irving to struggle against the Celtics. Boston limited shooting guards to an average of 31.52 PRA during the season and has Derrick White, arguably the best defensive guard in the league.
I foresee Irving's performance resembling his second-round struggles against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged just 15.7 points. These odds imply a 49.50% win probability, with a $10 bet paying out $20.20.
Best odds: +102 via DraftKings
Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1 odds & info
- When: Thursday, June 6
- Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
- How to watch: ABC
- Favorite: Celtics -6.5 (-110 via bet365)
Mavericks-Celtics player props made Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. ET.
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