Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/05/2023

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Thursday, January 5, 2023

Venue:  American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Where to Watch:  TNT

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Celtics -2, Mavericks +2; Over/Under:  230 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Celtics -2, Mavericks +2; Over/Under:  229.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Celtics -2, Mavericks +2; Over/Under:  230 points

 

Boston Celtics:  26-12 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

Dallas Mavericks:  22-16 (3rd place, Southwest Division)

 

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Boston Celtics:  5-5 last 10

Dallas Mavericks:  8-2 last 10

 

The Celtics are coming into this game with a 26-12 record overall and they are 11-7 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in their last game. Jaylen Brown led the team in points in that game with 29 while Jayson Tatum was next on the team with 27 points. Marcus Smart led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Malcolm Brogdon led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 45.5% from the field, 30% from 3-point range, and 80.6% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 118.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 113.3 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 21-17 this season and their O/U record is 19-17-2.

 

 

 

The Mavericks are coming into this game with a 22-16 record overall and they are 15-5 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 7 game winning streak with wins coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks, the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Rockets again in their last game. Luka Dončić led the team in points in that game with 39 while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood each were next on the team with 21 points. Luka Dončić led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Luka Dončić led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 42% from the field, 30.2% from 3-point range, and 88.2% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 112.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.3 PPG against them. The Mavericks have an ATS record of 13-23-2 this season and their O/U record is 22-16.

The current betting odds have the Mavericks listed as a 2 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Mavericks have been having a great season so far as they are 22-16 and are one of the better teams in the West right now as they are in 4th place. They have been a very good team at home this year with a 15-5 record there and a majority of their wins all season have come on their home court. The Celtics have also been having a great year with the best record in the NBA right now as they lead the East, but they have been starting to slow down in their games lately. They haven't been playing great over the last few weeks and have been struggling more on the road in these games as they are 11-7 in road games this year. They also enter this game with 2 losses in a row as they have struggled in their recent road games out West and they are not going to have it any easier against a good Dallas team here. The Mavericks will make sure to bring their best effort for the Celtics here who have the best record in the NBA and they will want to knock them down a peg with an upset win in this home game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Mavericks to cover the spread in this game.

 

Celtics Mavericks Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Thursday, January 5, 2023 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Mavericks 124 Celtics 120.

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Boston Celtics: 25-16 ATS on the road when the line is +3 to -3. 21-12 ATS after 2 or more consecutive losses. 27-11 UNDER as a road favorite of 6 points or less.

Dallas Mavericks: 13-22 ATS in all games. 3-10 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games. 21-7 UNDER as a home underdog.

 

 

Boston Celtics:  R. Williams III (C) Ques Thurs - Knee. D. Gallinari (SF) out for season - Knee.

Dallas Mavericks:  J. McGee (C) Ques Thurs - Illness. J. Green (SG) Mid Jan - Elbow. D. Finney-Smith (SF) Mid Jan - Hip. M. Kleber (PF) Mid Feb - Hamstring.

 

 

 

"You have to play with a sense of humility every night knowing your opponent wants to beat you. We have to match that, and we didn’t. We got outplayed in every aspect of the game.” - Joe Mazzulla after his team’s loss against the Thunder in their game on Tuesday.

 

 

“To win seven (straight) in this league, it’s not easy to win in this league, it’s easy to lose in this league, but it’s hard to win.” - Jason Kidd after his team’s win against the Rockets in their game on Monday.

 

 

 

PG Marcus Smart

SG Derrick White

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Jayson Tatum

C Al Horford

 

PG Luka Doncic

SG Spencer Dinwiddie

SF Tim Hardaway Jr.

PF Reggie Bullock

C Dwight Powell

 

 

PPG: J. Tatum (30.8)

APG: M. Smart (7.4)

Reb/G: J. Tatum (8.1)

 

PPG: L. Doncic (34.3)

APG: L. Doncic (8.9)

Reb/G: L. Doncic (8.8)

 

Coaches:

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (1st season)

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd (2nd season)