The Upcoming Matchup
The Dallas Mavericks, currently struggling with a record of 21 wins and 41 losses, will face off against the Boston Celtics this Friday at 7 p.m. EST in Boston. The Mavericks, sitting in 12th place in the Western Conference, are on a disappointing five-game losing streak. In contrast, the Celtics hold a strong 41-21 record, placing them second in the Eastern Conference and boasting an impressive 20-10 home record this season.
Betting Odds and Team Performance
BetMGM has set the odds heavily in favor of the Celtics, giving them a 15.5-point advantage and an over/under total of 222 for the game. The Celtics have been a dominant force on the boards, ranking fifth in the NBA with an average of 12.9 offensive rebounds per game, led by Neemias Queta who contributes 3.0 offensive rebounds per outing.
Dallas’s road performance has been lackluster, with a 7-22 record away from home, although they manage to stay competitive in close matches, featuring a 5-7 record in one-possession games. On the offensive front, the Mavericks score an average of 117.6 points per game, but they surrender 3.1 more points than that, allowing 114.5 points. They have shot 47.0% from the field, slightly better than the 44.1% that their opponents have shot.
Previous Encounter
This will mark the second meeting of the season between these teams; Boston previously triumphed with a score of 110-100 on February 4, where Jaylen Brown delivered a standout performance, scoring 33 points, while Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 36 points of his own.
Key Players
Top performers for the Celtics include Derrick White, who is averaging 17.3 points with a shooting percentage of 39.2%, and Jaylen Brown, who has been consistent with an average of 20.3 points over his last 10 games. For the Mavericks, Flagg is contributing 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while Naji Marshall adds an average of 14.9 points in similar timeframes.
Recent Performance
In their last ten games, the Celtics have recorded a solid 7-3 record, scoring an average of 108.5 points while holding their opponents to an average of just 100.7 points. The Mavericks, however, are struggling with a 2-8 record over their last ten, averaging 110 points while allowing 119.6 points per game.
Injury Updates
In terms of injury updates, the Celtics are monitoring Jayson Tatum’s status as he is day-to-day due to an Achilles issue. The Mavericks also face several injury concerns: Brandon Williams is day-to-day with a quadriceps issue, Dereck Lively II is out for the remainder of the season due to a foot injury, Kyrie Irving is sidelined for the entire season with a knee problem, and Marvin Bagley III is considered day-to-day with neck discomfort.
