Can Mavericks Solve Celtics in Game 3 of NBA Finals?

However, Dallas must find some answers.

The Celtics have won nine straight games and are 6-0 on the road in the playoffs, following relatively easy victories in Game 1 and 2 at home. Boston rolled to a 107-89 triumph on Thursday and settled for a 105-98 win on Sunday.

The Mavericks shot just 44.5 percent from the field – 26.5 from 3-point range – in the first two games and turned the ball over 29 times. Boston is draining 40.5 percent from behind the arc and making its free throws (82.1). Dallas is a woeful 28 of 43 from the line (65.1).

The Celtics seem to be on a roll right now and may put this series to bed quickly. Boston is -600 to win the series in the NBA future odds and Dallas is +450. One win makes a bet on the Mavs a good one, though.

Celtics vs Mavericks Game Information

• Game: Celtics (2-0) vs Mavericks (0-2)
• Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• Day/Time: Wednesday, June 12, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Celtics vs Mavericks Live Stream: NBA Game Pass

Celtics vs Mavericks Head-to-Head

Celtics vs Maverick Odds and Spreads

Celtics vs Mavericks Betting Trends

• The Celtics have won the last six meetings and are 5-0-1 ATS at the sportsbook in the same stretch after a push in Game 2.
• The under is 2-0 in the series after going 1-5 in the previous six contests for Dallas.
• Boston has hit the first-quarter moneyline in 29 of its last 39 road contests.
• The Mavericks have covered the fourth-quarter spread in 24 of their last 38 games.
• The Celtics have outscored the Mavericks by 38 points combined in the last meetings at Dallas.

Do Mavericks Have a Response?

Dallas has shown plenty of resilience in the playoffs, starting as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

The Mavericks dropped the opening game of their first two series of the postseason and answered with hard-fought wins in the next two. This will be their biggest challenge against a Boston team that has been the best in the league all season.

Dallas bettors will need big efforts from stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic is averaging 31 points in the series and Irving just 14.0 while shooting 35.1 percent from the field. But both have been involved in comebacks when down 2-0.

Kyrie Irving (2016 NBA Finals vs Warriors) and Luka Doncic (2022 Western Conference Semi’s vs Suns) have both made comebacks from being down 0-2 against the number one team in the NBA…

Believe in LuKai 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OUD15dFgCW

— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) June 10, 2024

Doncic has turned the ball over 12 times in the series, including a big one when Dallas had the ball down eight in the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Mavericks must take care of the ball better to earn your NBA betting.

Holiday Among Supporting Players Stepping Up for Celtics

Celtics point guard Jrue Holiday may be the MVP of the series through the first two games.

The veteran guard is averaging 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in the opening two contests after a historic effort on Sunday.

Jrue Holiday’s Game 2 was special!

He became the first player to record 25+ PTS, 10+ REB, 75.0+ FG% & 0 TO in an NBA Finals game since 1977-78 (when turnovers were first tracked).

Game 3 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV tips Wednesday at 8:30pm/et on ABC. pic.twitter.com/pyktiSaKOQ

— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2024

One reason the Celtics are a good bet to make this a short series is that their top two players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, don’t have to do it all. The top five scorers are averaging between 16.5 and 21.5 points in the first two games for Boston.

Center Kristaps Porzingis, coming off a calf injury, has 32 points in the first two games and Derrick White boasts 33 to go along with Holiday for Boston.

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Celtics Moving the Ball

Dallas finished with just nine assists as a team in Game 1. The Mavericks did a little bit better in Sunday’s contests with 21 helpers.

But the Celtics have shown the ability to move the ball and find open shots much better thus far with a 52-30 edge in assists. Tatum, who averages 24.9 points to lead Boston in the postseason, had a playoff-high 12 assists in Game 2.

Jayson Tatum: “It wasn’t like I had to do anything spectacular. It was just finding the open guy.”

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) June 10, 2024

The willingness of Boston to share the ball makes them a good bet to at least win one of the two games in Dallas. The way the Celtics have played of late, it would be hard to go against them in your NBA predictions.

Expect both teams to light up the scoreboard in this one.

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