Mavericks Look to Bounce Back After Game 1 Celtics Blowout
Mavericks vs Celtics G2 Preview, Predictions, and More
Your Mavericks vs. Celtics G2 preview is here! The Mavericks will look to bounce back after a tough loss in Boston in Game 1. The Celtics came out in Game 1, showing their readiness to complete their NBA Championship-caliber season. They took a 17-point first-quarter lead and never really looked back.
The Boston Celtics extended their lead in the second quarter, going into halftime up 21 points. In the third quarter, the Mavericks cut the lead down to 8 but were met by a Boston offensive surge that put the game out of reach.
The Celtics had solid performances up and down their roster, with six of the eight players with significant playing time scoring in double digits. The Mavericks, on the other hand, were carried offensively by Luka Doncic. Only four of their players scored in double digits, and only Luka eclipsed the 14-point mark (Luka scored 30).
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Expert Pick: Subscribe below to get our Premium Insights!The Celtics’ defensive dominance was on full display right from tip-off. They held Dallas to 41.7% shooting from the field and a terrible 25.9% from three-point land. The Celtics also had six steals and nine blocks to the Mavericks eight steals and one block.
This game marked the eighth straight win for the Celtics and only the second loss for Dallas in its last eight. The Celtics seemed a bit more prepared, both strategically and energetically, in Game 1. We are expecting Dallas to put up a better fight in Game 2.
The Celtics are favored once again in Game 2, the NBA betting lines are Celtics -7.5 with a total of 214.5. The Celtics are -275 to win straight up and Dallas are +225 underdogs. In this Mavericks vs Celtics G2 preview, we will take a look at Game 1 and see what we can learn for our Game 2 bets.
35-4…
When the Celtics take at least 50% of their shots from 3, they are now 35-4 on the season (including 6-0 in the playoffs). That’s a 74-win pace.
In Game 1 against the Mavericks, 42 of Boston’s 82 total shots were 3s. Made 16 of them. Dallas made only 7/27. pic.twitter.com/WDLbg3ZJmk
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 7, 2024
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics 
Day/Time:
Location: TD Garden, Boston
Streaming: ABC
Porzingod and Brown Rebounds
The key to the Celtics Game 1 win was Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis came off the bench after having missed 38 days with a calf injury and was the best player for Boston in the first half. Porzingis put in 20 points on 61.5% shooting from the field. He also chipped in six rebounds and three blocks.
After having missed significant time, and coming off the bench in his first-ever NBA Finals game, nobody expected this type of Game from Porzingis. Porzingis didn’t seem injured at all.
WHAT. A. SEQUENCE. 😱
Porzingis deep 3.
Porzingis block.
Hauser 3.
Porzingis block.Boston leads in Game 1 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/4KdBGriOSd
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
Outside of the Celtics injury luck with Porzingis, Jaylen Brown was also huge on both ends of the floor for Boston. Brown had a team-high 22 points and snatched three steals and three blocks on the defensive end. Brown also notched six rebounds, a solid output, but one that had him go under his predicted total of 6.5.
Brown has had a rebounding line of 6.5 for most of the playoffs and has been trending under. He has only gone over that line once in his last six games and is only averaging 5.7 rebounds over the last ten games. With Porzingis back in the paint for Boston take a look at Brown’s rebound total for a possible under bet.
Luka Needs Help
Luka is going to need some help if Dallas is going to have a chance in this series. Luka put up 30 points and 10 rebounds, but only one assist (Four assists less than his previous low over the past ten games). Although Luka himself didn’t shoot that efficiently (12-of-26 from the field and 4-of-12 from three), his supporting cast was even worse.
Kyrie Irving, Luka’s co-star, and Dallas’ second-leading scorer, was an inefficient 6-of-19 from the field with only 12 points (his lowest scoring total in seven games). Dallas Mavericks as a team was only 3-of-15 from three-point land outside of Luka.
The second and third highest scorers for Dallas were PJ Washington who put in 14 points and Jalen Hardy, who put in 13. Expect the Dallas role players to step up in Game 2, because if they don’t the Mavericks will be headed home down 0-2.
Dallas Bounces Back
The odds for Game 2 are Celtics -7.5, with a total of 214.5. The Celtics are -275 to win straight up and Dallas are +225 underdogs. Although the Mavericks were hit in the mouth in Game 1, we like them to bounce back in Game 2 and cover the 7.5-point spread.
The Mavericks are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games and have gone over in five of their last seven. The Celtics are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games and have gone over in five of their last seven as well.
The Mavericks lost Game 1 on the road in each of their first two series and bounced back in both with amazing Game 2 performances. We are expecting the same from them on Sunday, so tune in!
Thanks for enjoying our Mavericks vs Celtics G2 preview!
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