NBA Finals G3: Celtics-Mavericks Preview, Props, Trends
Wed Jun 12 12:44pm ET
Field Level Media
The NBA Finals enters a pivotal Game 3 with two distinct possibilities: the Boston Celtics take a commanding 3-0 lead and inch closer to the franchise's first title since 2008, or the Dallas Mavericks show some life and start to turn the tide of what has been a one-sided series so far.
TRENDING
The Mavericks are favorites at home despite opening the Finals with a pair of one-sided losses. That's due in part to the series shifting to Dallas and in large part to a key injury facing Boston.
Dallas is a 2.5-point favorite at BetRivers, where the Mavericks have been backed by 60 percent of the spread-line money. Their -137 moneyline also has drawn 67 percent of the money and 63 percent of the total bets.
Meanwhile, the 213-point Over/Under has seen the Over backed by 67 percent of the money.
PROP PICKS
--Kyrie Irving Over 23.5 Points (-110 at DraftKings): Irving has struggled through the first two games of the series, averaging just 14.0 points on 35.1 percent shooting from the floor. However, he averaged 25.6 points per game for the season, and Dallas' season is essentially on the line Wednesday night. This has been the most popular player total point prop at the book ahead of Game 3.
--Luka Doncic Over 3.5 3-Pointers Made (-190 at BetRivers): This has garnered the most player prop tickets at the book with 4.1 percent. Doncic made four three-points in each of the first two games of the series and has made at least four in six consecutive postseason games.
THE NEWS
The Celtics have proven to be the deeper, more talented team early on. Boston has been winning despite struggling on the offensive end such as shooting just 10 of 39 (25.6 percent) from 3-point range in Game 2.
The Mavs, meanwhile, can't rely solely on Doncic, who posted a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 2, a 105-98 loss at Boston. Doncic put together that performance after being listed as questionable for the game. It was revealed that he sustained a chest injury in Game 1 to go along with lingering issues with his right knee and left ankle.
Doncic, who is probable for Game 3, addressed his status on Tuesday, saying: "I feel good. I don't want to get in any more details, but I feel good."
The bigger question for the Mavs is finding a way to get Doncic's top running mate, Irving, going after a slow start. In the two games in Boston, Irving averaged just 14 points on a combined 13-for-37 shooting, including 0-for-8 from long range. If Dallas wants to get back in the series, Irving needs to find a way to make a greater impact.
"They're not going to stop pressing us, stop their pace, stop testing us on both ends of the floor," Irving said. "We know what we're in for. But now we have to raise it to an even higher level, and it starts with me."
Of course, that's easier said than done against a Boston defense that is dynamic and versatile. The Celtics have used multiple defenders to slow down the Mavs' backcourt with Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum all being options to provide different looks against Doncic and Irving.
INJURY REPORT
Boston center Kristaps Porzingis is hopeful he'll be able to play after sustaining a left leg injury late in Game 2. The Celtics announced it is unrelated to Porzingis' previous right calf injury. If Porzingis is cleared to play in Game 3, it would be his first appearance in Dallas since being traded by the Mavs in February 2022.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said the decision on Porzingis' status - listed Wednesday afternoon as questionable -- will come down to the medical staff.
"He's doing anything and everything he can to be ready for the game tomorrow. It's a serious injury," Mazzulla said. "At the end of the day, our team and the medical team is not going to put him in any bad situations."
KEY STAT
Boston is in the driver's seat based on league history, as 31 of 36 teams who had a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals went on to win it. So, what's the Celtics approach going into Game 3 as they look to extend their perfect road record in the playoffs to 7-0?
"Trying to be the hungrier team," Holiday said. "We're going to go out there and try and execute a game plan."
THEY SAID IT
"One game, I could explode. All the percentages and things like that could change. So, it's just that mindset of I'm one game away or whatever that means." --Tatum on his two sub-par shooting nights to begin the Finals.
-- Drew Davison, Field Level Media
- Billionaire Julia Koch buys share of Nets, Liberty
- Pistons fire Monty Williams with nearly $65M left on deal
- Pacers, Pascal Siakam agree to 4-year, $189.5 deal
- Celtics celebrate, confident championship window is wide open
- Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to have knee surgery
- Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis to have surgery on ailing leg
- Jeff Van Gundy to join Clippers coaching staff
- Sportsbooks establish Celtics as favorites for 2025 title
- Hawks GM says team won’t trade out of No. 1 pick
- Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis available for Game 5 of NBA Finals
- Down 3-1, Mavs striving to make history against Celtics
- Charles Barkley to retire from television after 2024-25
- Joel Embiid (knee) anticipates playing in Olympics
- Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis (leg) available for Game 4 of Finals
- Heat, Wizards to meet in Mexico City in November
- Clips, Celtics vying for Jeff Van Gundy's services
- Bronny James works out with Lakers
- Celtics vow to maintain fight even with commanding Finals lead
- Lakers to interview JJ Redick this weekend
- Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis (leg) out for Game 3 of Finals
Boston Celtics forward/centerAl Horfordwill be returning for his 18th NBA season next year. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck was on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI, a local Boston radio station, and said, "Al is coming back for next year. That's what I've been told." At 38 years old, Horford won his first NBA championship on Monday as the Celtics defeated the Mavs 106-88. He's suited up for 186 postseason contests and averaged 33.8 minutes, 12.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in his career.
According to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files, Indiana Pacers forward/centerPascal Siakam is close to signing a long-term contract extension with the team. Siakam had a solid first season as a Pacer and should receive a maximum deal. The All-Star forward compiled averages of 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 41 regular-season contests with the Pacers. In January, he was traded from Toronto for Bruce Brown,Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby might end up elsewhere this offseason. Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, there have been "indications" that Anunoby may want to test the market as a free agent because he is "not thrilled" with what the Knicks are offering. Reports suggest that Anunoby could land a contract worth $35-40 million per year in free agency. Anunoby was a very good fit with the Knicks after arriving from Toronto on Dec. 30. He averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks with the team. The Knicks had a fantastic 20-3 regular-season record with him in the lineup.
New York Knicks forward Bojan Bogdanovic is set to become a trade piece. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Knicks are expected to guarantee Bogdanovic's contract for 2024-25, which would make him a trade candidate for the final season of his deal. Bogdanovic has a $19 million deal in place for next season, but only $2 million of it is guaranteed. The Croatian veteran moved to New York in February in a trade with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 10.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 19.2 minutes off the bench. He was a good bench piece for the team, but the Knicks could be looking to use his contract in a trade for a star player.
Miami Heat point guard Patty Mills wants to continue his playing career. Mills will turn 36 in August but is eager to remain in the NBA after splitting the 2023-24 campaign between Atlanta and Miami. "I take really good care of myself and my body and the plan is to continue to play until the wheels fall off is how I see it," Mills told Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Mills, who won the NBA championship with San Antonio in 2014, has mostly been used as a veteran presence on teams in recent seasons. He was limited to 13.0 minutes and 4.0 points in 32 appearances in 2023-24.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, impending free-agent guard Klay Thompson is open to all "external options" in free agency this summer. The Warriors want him back. However, it remains to be seen how much Golden State is willing to bid for his services. But considering teams like the Orlando Magic could make Thompson a lucrative offer, his future with the Warriors is all but guaranteed. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points last season, his fewest since the 2012-13 campaign. He also started in just 63 of his 77 appearances after getting pulled briefly from the first five during the year. While Thompson's production is frustrating for fantasy managers, he could benefit from a change of scenery, especially if he remains in the starting lineup.
Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown was named the 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after the team closed out Dallas with a 106-86 victory on Monday. Brown, who was also voted the Eastern Conference Finals MVP during Boston's successful playoff campaign, had 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the title-clincher. He averaged 20.8 points in the Finals with 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals. The 27-year-old is the seventh Celtics player to be named the Finals MVP, the first since Paul Pierce in 2008. Brown has just entered his prime and should remain a valuable fantasy piece for a long time.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum closed out the 2024 NBA Finals in style, going close to a 30-point triple-double in Monday's title-clincher against Dallas. He led all scorers with 31 points and registered eight rebounds and 11 assists with two steals. The Boston star had two 30-point efforts in the five-game series and ended up as the team leader in points, rebounds, and assists. However, the 2024 Finals MVP award went to Tatum's partner in crime, Jaylen Brown. Tatum's scoring numbers dropped in 2023-24, but he recorded a career-high 4.9 assists and had another good fantasy year overall.
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) returned to the court in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday. Despite carrying a leg injury, he contributed six points in 16 minutes off the bench as the team earned banner No. 18 with a 106-88 win. Porzingis, who became the first Latvia native to win an NBA championship, has been diagnosed with a torn medial retinaculum, allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon. The 28-year-old told ESPN that he will require surgery and have a recovery process of a "few months." Porzingis had another injury-riddled campaign in 2023-24, and his health status is definitely something fantasy managers must consider when planning for the new season.
Boston Celtics forward/center Al Horford had a special night on Monday as the team finished off Dallas in the 2024 NBA Finals with a 106-88 win. He shook off an unwanted status as the active player with the most playoff appearances without winning an NBA championship. Horford, who made his debut with Atlanta in 2007-08, played in his 186th career playoff game on Monday. He had a good all-around outing with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The 38-year-old, who also became the first Dominican-born player to win an NBA championship, filled in admirably for Kristaps Porzingis as the starting center throughout the postseason. James Harden is now the record-holder among active players with 166 playoff contests without winning a ring, while Karl Malone has the all-time mark with 193 games.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic recorded 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals as his squad failed to extend the NBA Finals against Boston on Monday. Doncic received very little support from his teammates in a 106-88 defeat. It was a disappointing finish to an otherwise outstanding campaign for Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring in 2023-24 and produced 21 triple-doubles. He was also the top scorer in the Finals with 29.2 points per game and became the first player in history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the Finals.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving managed only 15 points on 5-for-16 shooting in Monday's 106-88 Game 5 loss against Boston. The Mavericks offense struggled right from the off, and Irving was forced to watch his former team celebrate the championship in the end. He was 3-for-9 with the three-ball and picked up three rebounds, nine assists, and one steal. Irving was fantastic in the Conference Finals against Minnesota, but very little went his way in his fourth NBA Finals series. The veteran star, who is now 1-3 in the Finals, averaged 19.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists with 27.8 shooting from behind the arc against Boston.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is questionable for Monday's meeting with the Dallas Mavericks. Porzingis returned for Game 1 of the NBA Finals after missing over a month because of a Soleus strain. Unfortunately, he suffered a dislocated Left Posterior Tibialis in Game 2 and didn't suit up in Game 3. Porzingis was available in Friday's loss. However, he never made it on the floor. The Mavs built a big lead early in that contest, so it's unknown if Joe Mazzulla would have put him into the game had the score remained close. But if the veteran is active on Monday evening, he's certainly a risky DFS option, considering he may not get off the bench.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (chest) is probable for Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Boston Celtics. Besides receiving pain-killing injections, it doesn't appear the thoracic contusion is much of an issue for the multi-time All-Star. He's averaged 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.5 steals during the series. While Doncic has struggled shooting from deep, he remains the top DFS option for managers on Monday evening.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is reportedly on the Pelicans' radar. Jonas Valanciunas isn't expected back next season, and Brandon Ingram could be on the move, so adding Allen would undoubtedly lessen the blow caused by the potential departures. The 26-year-old finished last season by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He also shot 63.4% from the field. Of course, Cleveland's primary focus this offseason is on extending Donovan Mitchell. However, the Cavs could keep their core intact, considering Evan Mobley wasn't the healthiest during the 2023-24 campaign.
The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to move on from center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason. The 32-year-old will officially be an unrestricted free agent this summer, with the Pelicans planning to construct the roster to complement the skillset of Zion Williamson better. But Valanciunas, averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds during the 2023-24 campaign, will draw interest from at least a handful of teams. Although his production was down last season, he's among the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association. With that in mind, if Valanciunas finds a stable role for a new team, he could continue to provide double-double upside for fantasy managers.
Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond appears ready to move on from the Windy City in the summer. According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Drummond is looking for a new team. The veteran big man will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after completing a two-year, $6.56 million deal in Chicago. Drummond has been a serviceable backup big for the Bulls, averaging 7.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes during his stay. The best days are behind Drummond, but he remains a strong rebounder and should help fantasy managers again in the department wherever he lands for the upcoming campaign.
Sacramento Kings duo Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes are reportedly available on the trade market, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Both players had disappointing campaigns in 2023-24, and it looks like the Kings will try to shake up the roster after failing to qualify for the playoffs. Barnes could be moving on just 12 months after signing a three-year, $54 million extension with the Kings. The 32-year-old has been a one-dimensional player throughout his career but has performed well in suitable situations. Huerter has proven himself to be a solid starter and could definitely do a good job for a number of teams if he isn't wanted in Sacramento anymore.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has had two solid years with the team but might land elsewhere for the 2024-25 campaign. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nuggets are "concerned" that Caldwell-Pope will decline his $15.44 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency. It is believed that the two-time NBA champion could attract a similar deal to the one Bruce Brown signed with Indiana last summer when he left Denver on a two-year, $45 million contract. Caldwell-Pope, who turned 31 in February, posted 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists with 40.6 percent three-point shooting in 2023-24.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton could be involved in another trade only two seasons after arriving from Cleveland. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is a "belief" among rival executives that Sexton could be on the trade market this summer, along with Jordan Clarkson, who has already previously been linked with a move elsewhere. Sexton has played well with the Jazz, averaging 18.7 points and a career-high 4.9 assists in 2023-24. But he could welcome a change of scenery as well after finding himself as a member of the second unit for large parts of his stay in Salt Lake City. The 25-year-old has two more seasons to go on his contract and will be paid $18.35 million in 2024-25.