Celtics vs. Mavericks: Prediction, Odds, Bets For Game 5

Shane Jackson Jun 17, 2024, 10:59 AM

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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics guards Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks on January 5, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game 5 of the NBA Finals is on Monday.
The Celtics are -275 favorites in the next matchup.
Boston is one win away from securing a championship.

The Boston Celtics remain one win away from securing their 18th championship in franchise history and first since 2008.

The Dallas Mavericks have already staved off elimination once, rolling to a 122-84 victory during Friday’s Game 4 at home. Luka Dončić led the way with 29 points for Dallas, while Kyrie Irving added 21.

With the series returning to Boston for Game 5 on Monday, the Celtics are 6.5-point favorites to finish the job in front of their home fans.

Here’s a look at the NBA playoff odds and my Game 5 prediction:

Celtics vs. Mavericks: Game 5 Odds

Boston -275
Dallas +220
Game 5 Spread: Celtics -6.5 (-110)
Game 5 Over/Under: 209.5
Series Odds: Celtics (-3000), Mavericks (+1300)

Celtics vs. Mavericks: Game 5 Prediction

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, and that’s unlikely to change in this series.

The Celtics are the superior team in every way, even if they have moments of lapses during an otherwise dominant playoff run. The loss to the Mavericks in Game 4 marked their third defeat this postseason, snapping a 10-game win streak.

Boston should bounce back on Monday, and Tatum will be a big reason. He leads all players with an average of 10 potential assists per game in the NBA Finals, setting his teammates up for success.

Tatum only tallied three assists last time, but had dished at least five dimes in his previous six outings.

At -130 or better, I’m willing to play a Same-Game Parlay that requires Tatum to record five assists in a Celtics victory.

Best bet: SGP – Jayson Tatum 5-plus assists and Celtics ML (-125)