Celtics vs. Mavericks picks, bets, predictions from proven NBA expert

The Boston Celtics will look to secure their 18th NBA championship when they take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Monday at TD Garden in Boston. Dallas was able to stave off elimination on Friday, posting a 122-84 win, but still trails the series 3-1. The Mavericks (50-32), who are looking to win their second NBA title, last won a championship in 2010-2011 when they beat the Miami Heat 4-2. The Celtics (64-18), who last won a title in 2007-2008 when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2, were beaten by the Golden State Warriors 4-2 two years ago in their last NBA Finals appearance.

The game from TD Garden in Boston will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. Boston is the 6.5-point favorite in the latest Mavericks vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 210.5. Before making any Celtics vs. Mavericks 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 his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 197-146-3 run that has returned nearly $3,700 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.

Now, he has set his sights on Celtics vs. Mavericks and 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 Mavericks vs. Celtics:

• Celtics vs. Mavericks spread: Boston -6.5
• Celtics vs. Mavericks over/under: 210.5 points
• Celtics vs. Mavericks money line: Boston -278, Dallas +2221
• DAL: The Mavericks have hit the second-quarter Under in 48 of their last 74 games (+19.35 units)
• BOS: The Celtics have hit the fourth-quarter Under in 63 of their last 93 games (+29.70 units)
• Celtics vs. Mavericks picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Celtics can cover 

Small forward Jayson Tatum has registered 13 double-doubles this postseason, with the Celtics going 13-0 in those games. He now ranks fifth in team history with 48 career playoff double-doubles. Tatum has scored in double figures in all 18 postseason games, surpassing 20 points 13 times and 30 points five times. In 18 playoff starts, he is averaging 24.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, six assists and one steal.

Shooting guard Jaylen Brown has moved into sole possession of 21st place on the NBA’s all-time playoff 3-pointers made list, breaking a tie with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who had 236 in his career. Although he reached double figures in Game 4, he had a streak of scoring 20 or more points snapped at seven games. Brown has scored in double figures in all 18 playoff games, and has reached 20 or more points 13 times. He has scored 30 or more four times. This postseason, he is averaging 24.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. See which team to pick here.

Why the Mavericks can cover

Power forward PJ Washington has reached double-digit scoring in three of four games this series. He had a 17-point, seven-rebound effort in a 105-98 loss in Game 2. In 21 postseason starts, he is averaging 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 35.7 minutes. Washington has registered three double-doubles this postseason, including a 29-point, 11-rebound and four-assist effort in a 119-110 second-round Game 2 win at Oklahoma City on May 9. He also scored 21 points and added 12 rebounds in Game 4 of that series, and had 10 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5.

Also capable of powering the Dallas offense is center Daniel Gafford. Gafford has reached double-digit scoring 10 times this postseason, including a playoff-high 16 points with five rebounds and five blocks in a 109-108 win at Minnesota on May 24 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. He nearly recorded a double-double in the Game 2 NBA Finals loss at Boston on June 9, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine boards. In 21 postseason games, all starts, he is averaging 9.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20.7 minutes. See which team to pick here.

How to make Celtics vs. Mavericks picks

Marshall is leaning Over 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 5 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 $3,700 on his NBA picks this season, and find out.