Another week, another national primetime television matchup for the Boston Celtics on a Sunday afternoon.
Last week, the Cs took care of a Brooklyn Nets team that had both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the lineup…a rarity during the 2021-22 season due to Irving’s COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and Durant’s sprained MCL in January caused by an on-court incident where Bruce Brown landed on his leg.
Since then, they’ve taken down the Detroit Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets by a combined 25 points to continue their utter dominance in the calendar year 2022.
Today, they take on a Dallas Mavericks squad that has gone 2-1 since last Sunday themselves, having taken down the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz but losing big to the New York Knicks at home.
With a decently-sized spread on deck, Hardwood Houdini takes a look at the odds and lays out a prediction for the Sunday afternoon matinee (live on ABC at 3:30 EST) at 100 Legends Way:
Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBet, the Celtics are a 7-point favorite against the Mavericks at home. Dallas is a underdog on the road at +260, with the Cs moneyline set at -320. The over/under for the game has been placed at 213 points.
Celtics vs. Mavericks prediction
Two key Mavs role players are questionable for Sunday’s tilt at the T.D. Garden. Without Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith, the 7-point spread seems easier to justify.
Still, any team with Luka Doncic is not one you should lock in a sizable loss for. Doncic has scored 30 points or more in five of his last six outings and is in the midst of yet another campaign averaging a near-triple double per game.
With Tatum and Doncic both on fire, the over is a bet I’d have little guilt placing ahead of Sunday’s collision.