After 82 regular season games and three playoff rounds, the 30 NBA teams competing for a championship have been narrowed down to two, who will compete in the 2024 NBA Finals. The Eastern Conference champions, Boston Celtics (64-18), are set to play the Western Conference champs, Dallas Mavericks (50-32).
Road to the Finals:
The first-seeded Celtics finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, and their playoff run was viewed as relatively easy. Considering that, in their first-round matchup, Boston beat the Miami Heat (4-1), who were playing without their best player Jimmy Butler (MCL sprain). Then in the Conference Semifinals the Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1), who also were riddled with injuries, as Jarrett Allen (bruised ribs) and Donovan Mitchell (calf strain) both missed multiple games throughout the series. Then in the Conference Finals, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers (4-0) in a series that Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring strain) missed Games 3+4.
On the other hand, the fifth-seeded Mavericks had a much harder road to the Finals, as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2), getting past Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden in the first round. Then the Mavs overcame Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the semi-final round (4-2). Lastly, they beat Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Rudy Gobert to win the Western Conference Finals over the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1).
Betting odds for NBA Finals:
Celtics: -225
Mavericks: +180
(BetMGM)
As to be expected, the Mavericks are the underdogs heading into the NBA championship. And with +180 odds to win a ring, if they come out on top, this will be a bigger upset than the 2011 NBA Finals, when the Mavericks (+155) defeated the Heat (-180).
The Celtics scored the second-most points per game during the NBA regular season (120.6), and also gave up the fifth-least amount of points to opponents (109.2).
Comparatively, the Mavericks scored the seventh-most points per game in the NBA this season (117.9), while being ranked 20th in opponents’ points per game (115.6).
In two regular season matchups this season, the Celtics are 2-0 vs. the Mavericks (119-110; 1/22/24) (138-110; 3/1/24).
In the past 76 NBA Finals series, the home team won the first game of the series 58 out of 76 times (.763 win percentage).
In view of this, the Celtics are the favorites for Game 1 (-6.5 points), and the over/under for total points is set at 214.5.
The NBA Finals are set to begin on Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 pm ET (ABC). Games 1+2 will be played at TD Garden in Boston, and Games 3+4 will be at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Postseason stat leaders:
Luka Doncic leads the Mavericks in points (28.8), rebounds (9.6), assists (8.8), and steals (1.6). Daniel Gafford is the team leader in blocks (1.8).
Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics in points (26.0), rebounds (10.4), assists (5.9). Jrue Holiday is the team leader in steals (1.3) and Kristaps Porzingis has the most blocks (1.5).
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