Four of the last five times Boston visited Dallas, the total went OVER. The total has gone OVER in each of Boston’s last two games without Marcus Smart, who’s out again Wednesday. Dallas has hit the OVER 17 times this season — and Wednesday’s total opened very low.
- Date/Time: December 18, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: American Airlines Arena
- TV Coverage: TSN 1, NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Southeast - Atlanta
- Sportsbook Odds: Boston -1 | O/U 216.5
- Celtics vs Mavericks Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Despite just beating the Bucks in Milwaukee, the absence of Luka Doncic leaves the Mavericks as 1-point home underdogs against a Celtics team that’s just 7-6 on the road. Boston has the fourth-ranked defense in the NBA, and Dallas is without its superstar, so even though both teams have played to the OVER recently, the total opened at a minuscule 216.5 points.
Boston News & Notes
It’s been six days since the Celtics played their last game, giving them plenty of time to reflect and recover from their 115-109 loss to Philadelphia last Thursday. It was Boston’s first home defeat all season and just the second time it has dropped back-to-back games.
The Celtics were torched by Joel Embiid for 38 points, which is surprising since Boston has allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing big men this season. The Celtics will have to contend Wednesday with Kristaps Porzingis, who has scored at least 20 points in three straight games.
Boston will also have to make due without point guard Marcus Smart for the third straight game due to an eye injury. While that’s a big loss, it helps that Dallas will also be without Luka Doncic, so Smart’s absence won’t be as debilitating to a Celtics squad that looks for its sixth ATS win in its last eight games against Dallas.
Dallas News & Notes
When MVP candidate Luka Doncic went down with an ankle injury, nobody knew what to expect from a Mavericks team that had leaned on the superstar point guard so heavily throughout the first part of the season.
With as difficult a first test as possible, on the road against a Bucks squad that was sporting an 18-game winning streak, it only makes sense that the Luka-less Mavs pulled out a 120-116 victory on Monday.
Kristaps Porzingis stepped up with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Seth Curry also netted 26 off the bench and Jalen Brunson logged a double-double filling in for Doncic. Six Mavericks scored in double figures, while Dallas held every Milwaukee starter other than Giannis Antetokounmpo below 10 points in the game.
The Mavericks will need another full team effort on Wednesday, but that shouldn’t be a problem for a team that has played strong basketball lately, going 12-3 ATS in its last 15 contests.
Betting Pick: OVER 216.5
Even without Luka, the Mavericks are still capable of scoring. The OVER has hit in each of Boston’s last two games without Smart, and with him sitting out this game, I think these teams find a way to top the low total.
- The OVER is 4-2 in the Mavericks’ last 6 games.
- Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road.
- Dallas is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home.
