- 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 Fridayโs Game 4 at home. Luka Donฤiฤ 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.
Hereโs 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 thatโs 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, Iโm 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)
Celtics vs. Mavericks: Betting Stats
- Boston Celtics 2023-24 ATS Record: 50-44-6
- Boston Celtics 2024 Playoff ATS Record: 9-8-1
- Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 ATS Record: 60-42-1
- Dallas Mavericks 2024 Playoffs ATS Record: 12-8-1
- Boston Celtics 2023-24 Over/Under Record: 51-49
- Boston Celtics 2024 Playoff Over/Under Record: 8-10
- Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 Over/Under Record: 45-57-1
- Dallas Mavericks 2024 Playoff Over/Under Record: 9-12
