The Dallas Mavericks will try to cool off the red-hot Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon when they visit TD Garden for an NBA cross-conference matchup. The teams appear evenly matched, with both in second place in their divisions and the Mavs fifth in the Western Conference and Boston fifth in the East. The Celtics (41-27) have won five straight games, but Dallas (41-26) has won six of its last seven. The teams have met once this season, with the Mavericks taking a 107-104 victory.
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as a 7.5-point favorite in its latest Mavericks vs. Celtics odds, while the over-under for total points scored is 213. Before you make any Celtics vs. Mavericks picks, you need to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 74-47 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Mavericks vs. Celtics and revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Celtics spread: Boston -7.5
- Mavericks vs. Celtics over-under: 213 points
- Mavericks vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -320, Mavs +250
- DAL: The Mavericks are 6-0 ATS in their last six as an underdog
- BOS: The Celtics are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 as a favorite
Featured Game | Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston is 25-24-1 against the spread as a favorite this season, and it has the best shooting defense in the NBA and limits opponents to just 104 points (third-best in NBA). Dallas has the league’s best scoring defense but outscores opponents by 3.1 (ninth). The Celtics score 109.7 points per game on average, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown carrying the offense. Tatum scored 31 points in a 114-103 win against Detroit on Friday.
Tatum averages 26.8 points and Brown averages 23, while Marcus Smart (12.1) provides key points and leads the team with 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals. Boston leads the NBA in opponent shooting percentage (43.1) and is second against the 3-pointer (33.6). It also gets 2.3 more rebounds per game than Dallas, and center Robert Williams blocks 2.2 shots per game, tied for most in the NBA.
Why the Mavericks can cover
Dallas has the best scoring defense in the NBA and one of its best players. Luka Doncic leads the team in almost every statistic, and he scored 30 in a 113-100 victory against Houston on Friday. Doncic is fifth in the NBA in scoring (28 points per game) and assists (8.7) and leads the Mavs in rebounds (9.6) and steals (1.2). Dwight Powell had a career-high 26 points against the Rockets, well over his average of eight points.
The Mavericks are 5-0-1 ATS in their past six road games. Spencer Dinwiddie (17.5 points, 4.5 assists) and Jalen Brunson (16, 5.2) complement Doncic, who scored 33 in the November meeting. Dallas gives up just 103.7 points, fewest in the league, and it ranks fourth in opponent 3-point shooting (33.7 percent).
How to make Mavericks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 221 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Mavericks? And which side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.