The Dallas Mavericks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010-11 as they take on the Boston Celtics, and we're making our NBA Finals predictions and best bets for Mavericks fans based on the best NBA odds.
The last time the Dallas Mavericks were in the NBA Finals, current head coach Jason Kidd was the starting point guard. Kidd's surely hoping the Finals play out the same way this time around and the Mavericks can upset the NBA championship odds favorites in the Boston Celtics just as they did the Miami Heat in 2011.
If Dallas is going to keep proving people wrong, it'll need Luka Doncic to sustain the remarkable play that helped elevate his NBA Finals MVP odds ahead of this week's championship series.
As we wrote about in our NBA Finals odds & betting preview, Doncic has been the most dominant player in the playoffs, setting up the NBA Finals as a clash between the best team vs. the best player.
Along with our NBA Finals predictions & best bets for Celtics fans, here's our breakdown of the top NBA Finals predictions and best bets for Mavericks fans ahead of Game 1 between the Mavericks and Celtics (odds via our best sports betting sites).
Best Mavericks NBA Finals odds
| Prop | Best odds |
|---|---|
| Mavericks to win series | +184 via FanDuel |
| Mavericks -1.5 games | +290 via BetMGM |
| Mavericks -2.5 games | +750 via bet365 |
| Mavericks -3.5 games | +2500 via BetMGM |
| Mavericks +1.5 games | -120 via Caesars |
| Mavericks +2.5 games | -222 via BetMGM |
| Mavericks win series 4-0 | +2500 via Caesars |
| Mavericks win series 4-1 | +1500 via BetMGM |
| Mavericks win series 4-2 | +550 via DraftKings |
| Mavericks win series 4-3 | +800 via bet365 |
Not even the most committed Mavericks fan would have expected Dallas to reach the NBA Finals as recently as early March. There was a time when it looked like Doncic and Co. would need the NBA Play-In Tournament to reach the playoffs.
That was before they closed out the regular season by going 16-4 over their last 20 games, and that momentum has carried into the postseason.
While the Celtics have been positioned as chosen ones this season, the Mavericks are as worthy an opponent as there is in the NBA. Dallas has one of the most lethal backcourt combos in the NBA with Doncic and Kyrie Irving, upsetting the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the Finals.
With Doncic continuing his MVP level of play, the Mavericks will make this a competitive series, even if they don't win the title. While I have Boston taking it in six, I think the best bet here is to go with Dallas +1.5.
Unless you believe the Mavericks will pull off the upset, the best odds on the board are for Dallas to force it to seven before ultimately losing. The -120 odds imply a 54.55% probability Dallas covers the +1.5 series spread, according to our odds converter. A $10 bet on this prop pays a profit of $8.33.
Best bet: Mavericks +1.5 games (-120 via Caesars)
$1,000 First Bet on Caesars
Terms and conditions apply.
Claim $1,000
Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly
Best Mavericks NBA Finals MVP odds
| Player | Best odds |
|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | +225 via bet365 |
| Kyrie Irving | +2200 via DraftKings |
| P.J. Washington | +30000 via BetMGM |
| Daniel Gafford | +35000 via Caesars |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | +50000 via DraftKings |
| Dereck Lively II | +50000 via FanDuel |
There's almost no feasible way that the Mavericks win this series and Doncic isn't named NBA Finals MVP. He's the best player taking the court in the series and, unlike with the Celtics' stars, he's the focal point of Dallas' offensive attack no matter what the situation is in the game.
For confident Mavericks bettors, you have to be elated that these odds are as long as they are for Doncic to win MVP. His usage has been through the roof all season and it's continued into the playoffs. Doncic leads Dallas in PPG (28.8), RPG (9.6), APG (8.8), and made 3-pointers per game (3.4), and his numbers would be even better if not for a knee injury slowing him at the beginning of the playoffs.
But Doncic seems to be back to his best and is coming off a series against the top-rated T-Wolves defense in which he averaged 50.2 combined points, rebounds, and assists while registering two triple-doubles. So while Doncic's odds only imply a 32.79% probability he'll win the award, they pay a $22.5 profit on a $10 bet at bet365 thanks to one of the best sportsbook promos of the NBA Finals.
Once upon a time, nobody expected Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks to upset the Heat, but they did and he won NBA Finals MVP. Betting the Mavericks to win the title and Doncic to take home MVP would pay a pretty penny.
Best bet: Luka Doncic (+225 via bet365)
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Claim $150
Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly
Best Mavericks NBA Finals player props
| Prop | Best odds |
|---|---|
| Series points leader | Luka Doncic (-175 via BetMGM) |
| Series threes leader | Luka Doncic (+100 via FanDuel) |
| Series rebounds leader | Luka Doncic (+180 via DraftKings) |
| Series assists leader | Luka Doncic (-500 via bet365) |
| Series blocks leader | Daniel Gafford (+180 via bet365) |
| Series steals leader | Luka Doncic (+400 via bet365) |
| Luka Doncic Over 30.8 PPG | -110 via DraftKings |
| Luka Doncic Over 3.8 made 3PG | -115 via DraftKings |
| Kyrie Irving Under 23.8 PPG | -125 via DraftKings |
| Dereck Lively II Over 7.0 RPG | -115 via DraftKings |
Regardless of which side you're on in this NBA Finals, betting into the series leading stats market is tough.
On Boston's side, the Celtics are so well-rounded with several players capable of leading in various categories, and on Dallas' side, it's the Doncic show. I think everyone expects the Mavericks star to lead the series in points – he's averaging the most per game of any player left in the playoffs – but the -175 odds are hard to justify.
It's even tougher when it comes to assists. Again, Doncic is leading that category and it's not even close, hence his -500 odds to lead the series in apples implying an 83.33% probability with a $10 bet paying just a $2 profit. Rebounds are tricky, too. While Doncic has led Dallas in boards in the playoffs, Jayson Tatum is pulling in 10.4 per game for the Celtics.
The best bang for your buck comes from taking Doncic to lead the series in threes at even money. He and Boston's Derrick White are both averaging 3.4 per game, but Doncic has been the better shooter as of late. White hit just 2.8 per game in the ECF while shooting 33.3% from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Doncic averaged 4.6 per game in the WCF on 43.5% shooting.
Going hand in hand with taking Doncic to lead the series in threes is taking the Over on his 30.8 PPG and 3.4 made threes per game. Against the mighty Minnesota defense, he averaged Over on both numbers. I expect Irving to take his lumps against Boston's defense, especially with White likely guarding him, which helps Doncic's case as well.
Best bet: Luka Doncic to lead series in threes (+100 via FanDuel)
Bet $5, Win $150 in Bonus Bets
New customers only. Deposit min. $10. Place first bet of $5+ and get $150 in Bonus Bets if the bet wins (within 72 hours).
Claim $150
Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly
Dallas Mavericks FAQs
The Mavericks have won one NBA championship, which came in 2010-11 with Dirk Nowitzki and current head coach Jason Kidd as the star players.
The last time the Mavericks won the NBA championship was in 2010-11, the franchise's lone title. They defeated LeBron James and the Miami Heat in six games.
The Mavericks haven't made it back to the NBA Finals since winning it in 2010-11. The closest they've come prior to this season was reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2021-22, when they lost to a Golden State Warriors team that also faced (and defeated) the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
This will be just the third appearance in the NBA Finals for the Mavericks since their first season as an expansion team in 1980. They've now reached the NBA Finals in 2005-06, 2010-11, and 2023-24.
Check out our best NBA bet ting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)