Celtics, Rare Underdogs For Game 3 of NBA Finals
2024 NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Mavericks Game 3 Closing Odds
Despite holding a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals and having built said lead without much contribution from star Jayson Tatum, the mighty Boston Celtics are underdogs on the Celtics vs Mavericks closing odds for Wednesday night’s Game 3 in Dallas.
The Celtics have only been underdogs a couple of times in the last five or so months, showing just how dominant they were all season and how much Vegas — and the public — likes the Mavericks to win tonight. Dallas is a 3-point favorite and is -150 on the moneyline. The total is 213.5 points.
While it may be jarring to see the Celtics expected to lose the NBA scores for any game, given the circumstances here, it makes sense. Dallas is at home, Boston lost games in each of its first two series this postseason and the Mavericks showed some life late in Game 2. It’s never easy for any team to sweep a playoff series, let alone the NBA Finals with Boston possibly not having Kristaps Porzingis as well.
The Porzingis situation looms large over this game and series as he suffered what’s called a torn medial retinaculum allowing for a dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left knee in Game 2. If you haven’t heard of that injury before, you’re in the majority as it’s an exceedingly rare ailment.
Only a handful of people have been diagnosed with such an injury in the U.S. over the last 25 years. As such, it’s still up in the air whether Porzingis can play tonight. But he has not been ruled out.
Celtics vs Mavericks 
Records: Boston Celtics (78-20), Dallas Mavericks (62-39)
Day/Time:
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Streaming: ABC
Porzingis’ Status Is Key
As the Dallas Mavericks know firsthand, whether Porzingis plays or not makes an enormous difference for Game 3. His uncertainty is a big reason why the Celtics vs Mavericks closing odds have Dallas as a solid favorite. Porzingis gives Boston much-needed frontcourt scoring and impactful rim protection.
The Celtics probably will be fine without him. His absence didn’t hurt them much against Cleveland or Indiana. But Dallas is a more formidable foe.
Also, the Celtics might not want to rush Porzingis back. Considering how unusual his injury is, and the fact that there are only two days between Games 3 and 4, it could make sense for the Celtics to play it slow with Porzingis. They can maximize their chances of having him ready for Friday’s game. That’s not to say Boston will sacrifice Game 3 but it would be smart to be strategic.
So, making NBA picks on this game could be difficult with all of the unknowns. It’s always nice to get a series favorite at plus-money straight-up but with how hard it is to sweep in the NBA, and with Dallas surely playing like a desperate team that has its back against the wall, siding with the Mavericks could be the play.
Kyrie Needs To Show Up
For the Mavericks to win tonight — and for them to have any chance in this series — Kyrie Irving has to step up his game. The Celtics vs Mavericks closing odds expect him to bring a little more to the table. He’s only averaging 14 points on 35 percent shooting (0-for-8 from 3-points). That’s a far cry from the three 30+ point performances he contributed against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dallas will get its points from Doncic. But the Mavericks don’t have enough from their supporting cast. We all know what Irving is capable of in big moments. When he is feeling it, he is one of the most spectacular individual playmakers that the NBA has ever seen. However, he has to deal with Jrue Holiday guarding him and a Celtics team defense that has been locked in.
The Boston Celtics trade rumors didn’t stop floating around when Kyrie was on the outs in Boston. So it feels like a perfect twist of fate for him to face the Celtics in the Finals. He won’t have a storybook ending unless he figures out how to get more involved on offense. He needs to make outside shots that fell against Minnesota.
How he plays will determine whether the Mavericks cover the 3-point spread, win straight-up as -150 favorites, and even if the high 213.5-point total goes over or under (-112).
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