The Boston Celtics, who own the NBA's best record, will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they take on the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Mavericks (34-25), who have won eight of 10, are coming off a 136-125 win at Toronto on Wednesday, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Dallas had won seven in a row from Feb. 5 to Feb. 22. The Celtics (46-12), who have won 14 of their last 16 games, have taken firm control of the Eastern Conference's top seed, leading second-seeded Cleveland by eight games.
The game from the TD Garden in Boston will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Dallas is averaging 118.9 points per game, while Boston averages 120.7. The Celtics are 9-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 237.5. Before making any Celtics vs. Mavericks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 63-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Mavs. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Mavs vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Mavericks spread: Boston -9
- Celtics vs. Mavericks over/under: 237.5 points
- Celtics vs. Mavericks money line: Dallas +305, Boston -390
- DAL: The Mavericks have hit the game total under in 22 of their last 34 games (+9.90 units)
- BOS: The Celtics have hit the first-half money line in 75 of their last 98 games (+14.25 units)
- Celtics vs. Mavericks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has five players averaging 13 or more points per game, including three averaging at least 20 points. Among them is eighth-year veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, who is averaging 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks in 29.6 minutes. He scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 117-99 win over Philadelphia, his eighth double-double of the year and 122nd of his career. He had 22 points, four assists and four rebounds in a 116-102 win at New York on Feb. 24.
Point guard Jrue Holiday is coming off a 13-point, seven-rebound and four-assist effort in the win over Philadelphia. Holiday has scored 10 or more points 38 times this year, including seven games with 20 or more. He has seven double-doubles in 2023-24 and has 154 double-doubles in his 15-year career. In 53 games, all starts, he is averaging 13 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 33.3 minutes of action. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Mavericks can cover
Point guard Luka Doncic is questionable with an ankle sprain and broken nose. If the team's leading scorer at 34.4 points per game can't go, look for point guard Kyrie Irving to play an even more prominent role for Dallas. In 37 games, all starts, Irving is averaging 25.9 points, 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 34.1 minutes of action. He is coming off a 29-point performance in a 136-125 win at Toronto on Wednesday, and has scored at least 29 points in each of his last five games.
Power forward PJ Washington, who was acquired in early February from Charlotte, had his best game as a Maverick in Wednesday's game. In 31 minutes of action, Washington poured in 23 points, while grabbing six rebounds and adding three blocks. In 51 games between Charlotte and Dallas, he has made 23 starts, and is averaging 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 29.5 minutes. He has faced Boston once this season, scoring 15 points and adding two steals. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Mavericks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 242 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Mavs, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 63-39 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
