Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates after their win against the Dallas Mavericks in game three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
- The Boston Celtics can sweep the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night
- The first three games of the series have all stayed under the game total by at least eight points
- See the Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 odds, predictions, player props and injury news
The Boston Celtics (79-20, 34-14 away, 51-43-5 ATS) are on the precipice of their first NBA championship since 2008, up 3-0 on the Dallas Mavericks (62-40, 32-21 home, 58-43-1 ATS) in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 4 on Friday night at American Airlines Center at 7:40 pm CT/8:40 pm ET.
Despite Boston winning each of the first three games by at least seven points (and by an average of 10.7 per game), Dallas is listed as a slight favorite to stave off elimination in the Celtics vs Mavericks Game 4 odds.
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +1.5 (-120) | -110 | O 211.5 (-110) |
| Dallas Mavericks | -1.5 (-100) | -110 | U 211.5 (-110) |
The Mavericks are listed as 1.5-point home favorites against the spread, but the moneyline is actually a pick’em with both teams at -110 in Friday’s NBA odds. The game total has come down from 213 in Game 3 to just 211.5 in Game 4. Both Games 1 and 2 had totals of 214.5. All three games so far have stayed under by at least eight points.
The Celtics’ NBA championship odds have improved from -225 at the outset of the series to -3500 entering Game 4. The Mavericks have faded from +185 to +1700. If they do the improbable and come back from a 3-0 deficit, the Mavs will be the first team in NBA history to do so.
Boston used a huge 35-19 third quarter to overcome a one-point halftime deficit and build in insurmountable 15-point lead in Game 3, cruising to a 106-99 victory. Jaylen Brown dropped 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting with eight rebounds and eight assists. Game 3 marked the first time this postseason that both Brown and Jayson Tatum (31 points on 11-of-27 shooting) scored 30 points in the same game.
Dallas finally got a decent showing from Kyrie Irving in Game 3 (35 points on 13-of-28 including 4-of-6 from three) but Luka Doncic was just 11-of-27 from the field and fouled out with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Boston vs Dallas Game 4 Injury Reports
The Game 4 injury reports are essentially the same as Game 3. Kristaps Porzingis (torn medial retinaculum) is listed as “questionable” again, but there are no credible reports suggesting he’ll play. The Boston center is dealing with a serious leg injury and sat out Game 3 on Wednesday.
The Boston injury report is otherwise empty.
On the Dallas side, Doncic is still listed as “probable”, as he has been every game this series and for most of the Western Conference Finals, due to a “thoracic contusion”. Doncic hasn’t missed any postseason games and has played at least 38 minutes in each of Dallas’ 20 playoff games to date.
He wasn’t terribly effective in the Mavs’ Game 3 loss, though, scoring 27 points on just 11-of-27 shooting from the field with six rebounds, six assists, three turnovers, and six fouls. He went just 1-of-7 from three, his worst performance from beyond the arc since going 1-of-8 in Game 1 against OCK in the second round.
Game 4 BOS vs DAL Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Horford (BOS) | 9.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) | 6.5 (Ov -122 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov +140 | Un-166) | 1.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) |
| Daniel Gafford (DAL) | 6.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 4.5 (Ov -115 | Un +114) | OFF | OFF |
| Dereck Lively II (DAL) | 8.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | OFF | OFF |
| Derrick Jones Jr (DAL) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) |
| Derrick White (BOS) | 15.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 4.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) | 3.5 (Ov -162 | Un +136) | 3.5 (Ov +136 | Un -162) |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 24.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 6.5 (Ov +120 | Un -152) | 4.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 2.5 (Ov +145 | Un -175) |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 27.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 9.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) | 5.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 3.5 (Ov +130 | Un -155) |
| Jrue Holiday (BOS) | 13.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 5.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 4.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 1.5 (Ov -166 | Un +140) |
| Kyrie Irving (DAL) | 24.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 3.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) | 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un-130) | 2.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) |
| Luka Doncic (DAL) | 32.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 9.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 8.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 3.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) |
| PJ Washington (DAL) | 13.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 6.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -180 | Un +150) |
NBA player props from DraftKings on June 14.
The player props for Game 4 list Doncic with a game-high point total 32.5, a number he hasn’t exceeded all series, though he did go over 32.5 in three of five games against Minnesota in the West finals.
Kyrie’s point total has increased from 23.5 to 24.5 after his 35-point outburst on Wednesday.
For the Celtics, Tatum has a team-high total of 27.5 followed by Brown at 24.5.
Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction
The Boston defense has been the biggest difference-maker in this series, and even without Porzingis (who had five blocks in just 44 minutes over the first two games) on the floor in Game 3, the Mavs still couldn’t crack the 100-point plateau, despiting shooting a series-best 36% from three.
It’s hard to see too much changing in Game 4. The perimeter defense from Jrue Holiday isn’t going anywhere and Dallas doesn’t have difference makers in the frontcourt to make up for it. I expect both trends to continue in Friday’s potential elimination game: another under and another Boston victory.
BOS vs DAL Game 4 picks:
- Celtics moneyline (-110)
- Under 211.5 (-110)
- Tatum under 27.5 points (-105)
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.