2023/2024 NBA Game 3 Betting Predictions
Boston are just two games away from their first title since 2008. Can the Mavericks stop them on their home court in Game 3? Let's talk about how Thursday's Game 3 of the NBA Finals is shaping up.
Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics (Celtics 2-0)
So the Mavericks really gotta shake things up asap. Seems like Kyrie Irving's having a tough time with this matchup and Jason Kidd hasn’t cracked the code yet. White and Jrue Holiday have been tag-teaming on defence against Irving and it's been paying off. Holiday's a beast one-on-one, but even White's been holding his own against Irving. And even when Tatum or Al Horford get switched onto Irving, they're managing to stick with him without fouling. Can you believe Irving's only taken two free throws in the Finals?
Now, someone I'm eyeing to go over their points is P.J. Washington. I threw down on him to hit more than 1.5 threes in Game 2, but he only managed one out of five from beyond the arc. I figured the Mavs would be chucking more threes, especially since Washington was launching nearly 20% of their shots in Game 1. But nope, they actually shot even fewer in Game 2.
Luka Doncic, though, man, he's been the real deal. The guy's been carrying the team on his back, creating shots left and right while dishing out dimes like it's nothing. In these NBA Finals, he's putting up crazy numbers: 31 points, 10.5 rebounds, six assists and three steals per game. He also got a triple-double in Game 2: 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Now, keep an eye on PJ Washington too. He's a real threat out there, making moves off the ball, grabbing rebounds and dropping buckets. He's averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in these Finals and in Game 2, he put up 17 points and snagged seven boards.
So, the Celtics really made a statement in Game 2 with a solid win, even though they were struggling big-time from downtown. They shot a measly 25.6% from beyond the arc, but hey, their defence stepped up big time. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were stealing left and right, combining for six steals and they also put up 21 and 18 points, respectively.
But you know what kept the Celtics' offence ticking? Jayson Tatum. This guy's the real deal when it comes to dishing out dimes. Check this out: Boston's 33-11 when Tatum dishes out five or more assists in a playoff game since 2022. But when he's got four or fewer, they're just 6-10. Tatum's been leading the series in Potential Assists with 13.5 per game and he's averaging 8.5 assists overall.
Now, Tatum's not just about scoring buckets; he's become a real playmaker in this series. Despite getting double-teamed all the time, he's keeping his cool and finding open teammates like a boss. In these NBA Finals, he's averaging a solid 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. And in Game 2, he dropped 18 points, grabbed nine boards and dished out 12 assists.
Don't sleep on Derrick White. This dude's been a reliable role player for the Celtics. He's got a sweet stroke from downtown and plays tough D. In the postseason, he's putting up 17.6 points, four rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. White's been lighting it up in the first two games of the Finals, scoring 15 or more points each time. In Game 2, he put up 18 points, snagged five boards and went 4-of-10 from downtown.
You have to like the Celtics as underdogs. They shot poorly in Game 2 and still came away with a fairly easy win. They're now 9-0 in their last 9 playoff games and 5-1 ATS when they play the Mavs. The venue change shouldn't make much of a difference, I think.
Stadium Record
Dallas are 12-4 in their last 16 games at home. Boston are 2-2 in their last 4.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the Celtics are 6-4.
Best Bet
