The Boston Celtics will look to raise their 18th championship banner in franchise history as they seek a sweep over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of their 2024 NBA Finals series on Friday. Boston, which earned a 106-99 win on Wednesday, has not swept an NBA Finals since defeating the Minneapolis Lakers in four games in 1958-59. The Celtics (64-18), who last won a championship in 2007-08, had reached the NBA Finals two years ago, losing to the Warriors. The Mavs (50-32), who defeated the Heat to win their only title in 2010-11, are competing in their third-ever NBA Finals.Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is questionable for Boston.
The game from American Airlines Center in Dallas will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Celtics are averaging an NBA second-best 110.4 points per game this postseason, while the Mavericks average 106.1, eighth-best. Boston is a 1-point favorite in the latest Celtics vs. Mavericks odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 210.5. Before making any Mavericks vs. Celtics picks, be sure to check out what legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.
Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famous betting newsletter, for years and his vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed hisNBA picksthis season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 196-146-3 run that has returned nearly $3,600 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has set his sights on Celtics vs. Mavericks and just locked in his picks and NBA Finals predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the NBA lines and trends for Celtics vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Celtics spread: Boston -1
- Mavericks vs. Celtics over/under: 210.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Celtics money line: Boston -113, Dallas -108
- BOS: The Celtics have hit the fourth-quarter Under in 63 of their last 92 games (+30.80 units)
- DAL: The Mavericks have hit the second-quarter Under in 47 of their last 73 games (+18.35 units)
- Mavericks vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
Dallas will need another solid effort from power forward PJWashington, who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the Game 3 loss. Washington has had a near double-double in all three games, scoring 17 points, while adding seven rebounds, one assist and one block in Game 2. In the series opener, he had 14 points and eight rebounds. In 20 games this postseason, all starts, he is averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 36.8 minutes.
Small forward Derrick Jones Jr. will be looking to his Game 2 form if the Mavericks are to stay alive in the series. In Sunday's game, he scored 11 points, while adding three rebounds and two assists. He has played a key role a number of times this postseason. In the Western Conference semifinals Game 6 win over Oklahoma City, he scored a playoff-high 22 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists. In 20 postseason starts, Jones is averaging 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one block in 30.4 minutes of play.See which team to pick here.
Why the Celtics can cover
Forward Jaylen Brown has been on a tear and nearly registered a triple-double in Game 3 as he had 30 points, while adding eight rebounds, eight assists and one block. He has scored 20 or more points in each of the last seven postseason games, including a 40-point performance in a Game 2 win over Indiana on May 23. In 17 playoff games, all starts, he is averaging 24.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 37.4 minutes. He had 22 points, six rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists in the series opener.
Guard Derrick White is also having a solid series, averaging 16.3 points in the three games against Dallas. In Game 3, he poured in 16 points, while adding five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He has reached double-digit scoring in each of his last eight postseason games. In Game 2 of the series, he scored 18 points, while adding five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. He has been red hot from the floor, connecting on 46.2% of his field goals, including a blistering 40.7% from 3-point range and 91.7% from the free-throw line.See which team to pick here.
How to make Celtics vs. Mavericks picks
Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He has also identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. You can only see his NBA picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So who wins Mavericks vs. Celtics in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Mavericks spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned nearly $3,600 on his NBA picks this season, and find out.
