This Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics will tip off Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. The futures odds at online sportsbooks have long forecasted the Celtics as the team that would win the NBA Finals.
Boston coasted to the top record in the Eastern Conference and used its number one seeding well, only dropping two contests during the NBA Playoffs. The Mavericks’ postseason experience has them battle-tested, as they have knocked off three teams that were at times projected to reach the finals this year.
2024 NBA Finals Schedule
- Game 1 – Thursday, June 6th At 8:30 pm In Boston
- Game 2 – Sunday, June 9th At 8 PM In Boston
- Game 3 – Wednesday, June 12th At 8:30 PM In Dallas
- Game 4 – Friday, June 14th at 8:30 PM In Dallas
- Game 5 – Monday, June 17th At 8:30 PM In Boston (If Necessary)
- Game 6 – Thursday, June 20th At 8:30 PM In Dallas (If Necessary)
- Game 7 – Sunday, June 23rd At 8 PM In Boston (If Necessary)
*All NBA Finals games will air on ABC
Who Will Win Game 1?
MAVERICKS. CELTICS. 🍿
The #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV are officially set!
Game 1: Thursday, June 6th at 8:30pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/9U9ng7hAjr
— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2024
NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Line
Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics
- Point Spread: Mavericks +6.5, Celtics -6.5
- Moneyline: Mavericks +200, Celtics -240
- Over/Under: 214.5
It should come as no surprise that Boston is favored at home. The Mavs will need to win a game at TD Garden in order to have a chance at hoisting a championship, and they have a shooter’s chance at doing so.
Dallas has an edge in that its roster possesses the best player on the court (Luke Doncic), and its second option (Kyrie Irving) is arguably better than the Celtics’ number two (Jaylen Brown).
All planets have seemingly aligned in Dallas, and it will be tough to bet against them with a red-hot Doncic who is impossible to guard.
Who Will Win The Series?
Until Dallas captures a win on the road, online NBA sportsbooks will likely continue favoring the home team in each matchup. The Mavericks have bucked the trend in each series so far, winning in their opponent’s arena and flipping the odds in their favor.
The Celtics will be a tough out and are favored to win across the board for legitimate reasons. They also have the extra incentive of winning their 18th championship as a franchise, which would place them in sole possession of first place all-time—one ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.
We’ve been tracking the NBA Playoff picture since the All-Star Game, and while the leading team in the Western Conference has been in constant flux, the Celtics have held the top spot in the East for nearly the entire time.
Dallas has had a much tougher road to blaze, facing the 4, 1, and 3 seeds with a home-court disadvantage in all series. The odds are stacked against the Mavs, but perhaps they’ll be the wise bet once again.
Sources:
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