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Horse Racing Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Best Bet: Boston Maintains Scorching Start
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Best Bet: Wednesday, November 23rd
The 13-4 Boston Celtics are 4.5-point favourites over the 9-7 Dallas Mavericks for their game at TD Garden on Wednesday night. Maxi Kleber and Spencer Dinwiddie are both doubts for the Mavericks, who have lost four of their last seven games, including a defeat to the depleted Denver Nuggets a couple of days ago. Boston lost to Chicago on Monday, but had won nine in a row prior to that game.
Jayson Tatum is questionable for the Celtics. Robert Williams III and Danilo Gallinari are long-term absentees.
Dallas is sixth in net rating, just two spots behind Boston, yet they have the worst against the spread record in the NBA at 4-11-1. Boston has covered in 52.9% of their games to date, and the Mavericks are an ugly 1-4 straight up on the road. Obviously, Tatum’s availability is crucial when betting on this game, but even without Tatum, Boston has offensive firepower and a defence which can stifle Dallas.
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Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Preview
Thu, Nov 24. 00:30 (UK time)
Luka Doncic has cooled off a little after a scorching start to the campaign. With Dinwiddie expected to sit out, it will be trickier for Doncic. Dallas has no other ball handlers in the rotation, meaning Boston can sell out on the Slovenian and force the ball out of his hands. Against an elite defence, these are the games where the Mavs really miss Jalen Brunson.
While Tatum’s health means the Cs could be short of an option to throw at Doncic, Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and the hyper-athletic Jaylen Brown are more than comfortable taking the assignment.
A crucial element in this game will be the turnover battle. Boston seems to have addressed its carelessness with the ball – only three teams are turning it over less frequently. The Mavericks, however, are seventh when it comes to forcing turnovers. Will the Celtics be able to look after the ball as well as they have done of late?
With Doncic as their offensive hub, the Mavericks have a great shot profile, with a bucketload of threes being shot per game. In this slump, though, they are 22nd in three-point percentage. Dallas cannot afford to be anything other than lethal from the outside in this matchup.
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Best Bet
Boston’s offence obviously isn’t as dangerous without Tatum, but this is still a team with a lot of firepower. They are averaging the second-most three-point shots per game and making 39% of them (third-most in the league). Dallas generally do well at stopping opponents from taking outside shots, but doing so on Wednesday night is a big ask.
The Celtics’ only home loss was an overtime thriller against Cleveland. Five of their seven home games have been won by more than five points. There’s value backing the Eastern Conference champions to win this by a couple of possessions.
- Selection: Boston Celtics -4.5
- Best Odds: 1.95 (Coral)
- Stakes: 4/10
Odds as at 1:00 pm on November 23rd, 2022. Odds may now differ.
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