Boston (3-0) at Dallas (0-3)
When: Friday, June 14th 2024
Where: American Airlines Center,
Dallas, TX
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Dallas -1/211.5
After a couple of blowout wins by the Boston Celtics to begin the 2024 NBA Finals, Game 3 offered something different. It was a back-and-forth game full of runs that ultimately went the Celtics way in a 106-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Dallas will now try and do the impossible and win four straight – something that has never been done in NBA history. Once again, the Mavericks are favored at home in Game 4, laying 1-point with a total pegged at 211.5. All three games have gone Under, while the Celtics have covered the spread in each of those as well.
We are now at a point where books aren’t even offering series odds for a sweep. The smallest odds are the Celtics winning 4-1, which is priced at +160, which then shoots up to +1000 should the series require six games. The conversation now turns to who will win Finals MVP. Boston’s Jaylen Brown is the big favorite at -340, followed by Jayson Tatum at +275. The closest behind them is Luka Doncic at +3000. If the Mavericks can pull off the impossible, Doncic will surely get it. Game 5, if necessary, will be Monday night back in Boston.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics are just 48 minutes away from winning the franchise’s 18th title. Boston won Games 1 and 2 with Tatum not playing well. In Game 3, Tatum turned it on with 31 points, six rebounds and five assists. Even without Kristaps Porzingis, Boston found a way on Wednesday night. Brown was 12-for-22 (30 points) from the floor and players like Sam Hauser were contributing. Derrick White had two more shot blocks to bring his total to seven for the series. This is a deep roster and the best team all season long. A championship celebration over the next two games is inevitable.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Does Dallas have enough pride to at least force this series back to Boston and prevent the Celtics from celebrating on the Mavs court? Dallas played better in Game 3 and so did Kyrie Irving. The former Celtic recorded 35 points (4-for-6 from beyond the arc), while Dereck Lively II had a much bigger impact with 13 boards. Up one at half, the Mavericks came out and played a horrible third quarter, which was the ultimate difference. Luka Doncic fouled out and lacked discipline with his attitude. He finished with 27 points, but was 1-for-7 from 3-point land.
Prediction:
This is the one game I think Dallas can get in this series. Boston’s energy probably won’t be up like it was in Game 3, knowing they can easily win this series back home on Monday. The Mavs will show some pride tonight and get the W at home.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
