Celtics vs Mavs – NBA Finals Game 3

By Luis June 11, 2024

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As the NBA Finals shift to Dallas for Game 3, Derrick White has been a standout scorer for a balanced Boston Celtics offense. No doubt White will continue to pose problems for the Mavs

Game Date: June 11, 2024
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Historical Trends and Betting Insights

Teams going home down 2-0 in the NBA Finals and then favored in Game 3 have gone 6-0 outright since 2003.

The Dallas Mavericks (-130) are favored over the Boston Celtics (+110) on Wednesday night.

Key Trends and Analysis

Balanced Offense: The Celtics have a well-distributed offensive strategy that oddsmakers might not have fully adjusted to
Tatum’s Playmaking: Tatum has averaged 6.3 assists throughout the playoffs, an increase from his regular season average of 4.9. This indicates his role in facilitating Boston’s balanced attack.
Role Players Shining: Jrue Holiday and Derrick White have stepped up significantly. Holiday scored 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Game 2, while White has been a consistent scorer, especially after Kristaps Porzingis’s injury.

Derrick White’s Impact

White’s scoring has been crucial for the Celtics, especially when Porzingis was injured.

Even with Porzingis back, White scored 15 points in Game 1 and 18 in Game 2. If Porzingis is limited due to his recent leg injury, White’s role will become even more critical.

Postseason Performance: White has exceeded his points prop in 11 of 16 postseason games, including his last three games and six of his last seven.
Three-Point Shooting: White has maintained a strong three-point shooting rate, averaging 9.0 attempts per game in the first three rounds and going 7-of-18 in the Finals.

Defensive Matchups

The Mavericks have quality defenders to challenge Tatum, Brown, and sometimes Porzingis. However, they lack the depth to cover the entire Celtics’ offense, which benefits players like White.

Tatum’s Assists

If Boston had shot better in Game 1, Tatum could have had double-digit assists in both Games 1 and 2. He recorded five assists and 14 potential assists in Game 1, and then 12 assists in Game 2.

Betting Strategy

Combining White’s scoring and Tatum’s assists with the Mavericks moneyline enhances the same-game parlay’s payout. Teams down 0-2 are 21-12 in Game 3, providing optimism for the Mavericks, who are also 3-0 in Game 3s this postseason.

Celtics vs Mavs Spread and Over/Under Analysis

Despite losing the first two games by significant margins, the Mavericks opened as 1.5 to 2-point favorites. This spread adjustment reflects the home court advantage and the urgency of the 2-0 deficit.