Either the Dallas Mavericks or Boston Celtics are just four victories away from winning the NBA Finals and bringing another championship home to proudly display in their trophy case.
When it comes to hardware, the Mavs are severely lacking compared to Boston’s 17 titles. They are tied with the LA Lakers for most all-time championships, and the odds at NBA betting sites are unanimous in their projection that the Celtics will win an 18th this year.
Dallas did manage to win one in 2011 during the Dirk Nowitzki era, and now they’re seeking to add another during the reign of Luka Doncic. Veteran point guard Jason Kidd was a key ingredient on that 2011 Mavericks team.
Kidd now serves as head coach for Dallas and is poised to defy the basketball odds that online NBA Finals sportsbooks have produced.
Betting On Game 1 Of The NBA Finals
Boston will host Game 1 tonight, with a tipoff scheduled for 8:30 PM on ABC. The Celtics hold a 6.5-point advantage in the spread and a sizable lead in the moneyline odds to win.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics
- Point Spread: Dallas +6.5, Boston -6.5
- Moneyline: Dallas +190, Boston -230
- Over/Under: 216.5
The lower seed in any given seven-game series must win at least one road game to be the first to capture four victories. If Dallas is going to become the league champs, they’ll need to take at least Game 1, 2, or 5 in TD Garden.
Top Point Scorer In Game 1
- Luka Doncic (DAL) -145
- Jayson Tatum (BOS) +220
- Jaylen Brown (BOS) +500
- Kyrie Irving (DAL) +500
- Kristaps Porzingis (BOS) +2500
Having the highest-scoring player on the court can help Dallas’ cause, and this NBA prop implies they do.
Who Will Win The 2024 NBA Finals?
The Celtics were rated second overall in the preseason NBA Championship futures with a +400 moneyline. The Milwaukee Bucks were ranked just ahead of Boston and were expected to perform better than usual, thanks to the addition of sharpshooter Damian Lillard.
The Celtics’ dominance was evident by midseason, and the first seed was wrapped up with weeks remaining. That strength was reflected in their chances at NBA Playoffs betting sites, as they’ve been the top dog for months now.
The same cannot be said for Dallas. They entered the 2023-24 season tied for 8th in the NBA futures at +2500. This year, Luka seems to have caught fire at just the right time, as he and Kyrie Irving have taken out some real juggernauts during the postseason.
2024 NBA Finals Series Prices
- Dallas Mavericks +175
- Boston Celtics -210
Still, current NBA Finals prices expect Doncic’s blaze to be extinguished by Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, as the following odds imply that Boston has a two-in-three chance of beating the Mavs.