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The lockdown defense of the Boston Celtics has overshadowed their offensive efficiency in the NBA Finals allowing them to take a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks with the series shifting to Big D for the pivotal Game 3 on Wednesday June 12. It’s not a must win situation for the Mavs, but considering no team in the history of the league has ever won a seven-game series after losing the first three games, it’s about as close as you can get. What makes the job more challenging for the Mavs is that Boston has yet to lose a road game this postseason and they’ve won nine straight after Sunday’s 105-98 triumph. The teams pushed the 7-point closing NBA point spread with both games playing below the NBA odds total.
Cruising through the playoffs the Celtics have only two losses and none since Game 2 of their second round series. They played as the favorite in every game laying at least 6.5-points on the NBA betting line. However, they are faced with something different opening as a 1.5-point underdog for Game 3. They are 6-0 on the road but have lost three straight as a NBA pick against the spread. I bought the Mavs in Game 2 when they were +7.5 and the move paid off in their 7-point setback. The line shifted in favor of Boston going as low as 6.5 points, which once again proves the value of half a point when placing your NBA bets at BetMGM.
Bet on the NBA Playoffs at BetMGM
NBA Finals Schedule for Wednesday, June 12
Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. ET / ABC
After struggling in Game 1 with his return to Boston I expected Kyrie Irving to be better. He was a miserable 6 of 19 shooting and missed all five three-point attempts for a measly 12 points. And the Mavs had their lowest output of the postseason in their 107-89 loss. I figured what the heck, back Kyrie going over his projected point total of 22.5 in Game 2 as part of my NBA picks and parlay. In theory it was a good play, but it turned out not to be. Irving fell short of the number scoring 16 points in the 105-98 loss and has yet to make a triple in the NBA Finals after going 0 for 3. Turns out it didn’t matter since I backed OVER 214.5 and the clubs fell short.
With their backs against the wall you expect the Mavs to play with a sense of urgency. Even if that is the case they have to beat a team that feels as though it can’t lose. And the Celtics haven’t lost in over month. Facing some steep NBA point spreads the Celtics are just 3-5-1 as a NBA pick against the spread during their nine-game winning streak. If the line of Boston +2 in Game 4 holds it’ll be the first time the Celtics are catching points.
It’s hard to imagine Boston losing as well as they’ve played the entire season. They boasted the best record during the regular season finishing 14 games ahead of second place New York in the Eastern Conference. And they’ve continued that success in the postseason winning 14 of 16 games so far. The Cs boast the second-highest scoring offense and the third-best scoring defense in the playoffs. The clamped down on Irving holding him to 13 for 37 shooting, including 0 for 8 from three-point range, in the first two games of the NBA Finals.
Luka Doncic can put up big numbers reaching the 30-point mark in both Finals games and three consecutive games overall, but the Mavs need more than just him. Irving has been a dud after reaching the 30-point mark three times in the West Final. He was averaging more than 22 points entering the NBA Finals and totaled just 28 points in Boston. His lack of offensive production was a big reason why the teams cashed the UNDER on the NBA odds total in Games 1 and 2.
As much as I want to back the Mavs with them being at home, and as much as the NBA would like to see an extended series after Boston swept Indiana in the East Final and Dallas’s five-game win over the Wolves in the West, I don’t see anything changing. Outside of Jrue Holiday, who was 11 of 14 from the field, the Celtics had a tough time shooting the basketball in Game 2. The rest of the team shot just 38.5 percent and Jayson Tatum had another poor Finals game making 6 of 22 shots. You would think the offense would pick things up but both teams have played exceptional defense, which isn’t overly surprising since they’ve done it the entire postseason.
NBA Finals Same Game Parlay Picks for Sunday, June 9
Boston +2
Boston / Dallas UNDER 212.5
Kyrie Irving OVER 22.5 Points
Bet $100 to Win $650 On This NBA Parlay at BetMGM
