Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics
Time: 6 PM ET, Feb 9, 2014
Spread: DAL -4.5
M/L: DAL -190; BOS +165
Total: 199
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Dallas Mavericks are 30-21 and are tied with Golden State for the 7th best record in the West. The Mavs are 12-13 on the road and will travel to the TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics in a game NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Mavericks by 4.5-points.
It has been a relatively dreadful season for the Celtics, who currently sit at 18-33. The team is in strong contention for a high draft pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, and Danny Ainge may make further roster moves at the trade deadline. The Celtics already parted ways with Jordan Crawford, and the roster is left short on scoring options.
Jeff Green is having a nice season, averaging 16.3 points and five rebounds per game, and Avery Bradley is starting to grow more offensively, but the Celtics desperately need Rajon Rondo to start playing like his former self.
Rondo has been coming along slowly, and has averaged 25 minutes per game in his first eight games back. He’s averaging 8.4 points and 6.9 assists per game. Bradley is expected to miss the game due to an ankle injury and Rondo is experiencing soreness in his right knee, but is expected to play.
The Celtics have been pleased with 2013 first round pick Kelly Olynyk. The BYU product has averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, though he has had a number of standout games, including a 25 point, seven assist, five rebound effort against the Lakers on Jan 17. Last time out against Sacramento on Friday (Feb 7) night, Olynyk had 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Mavs have won four straight and will look to make it five against Boston tonight. The last three games haven’t even been close, with the Mavericks winning by an average of 17.6 points per game.
The Mavericks aren’t being talked about as legitimate contenders, but it should be able to put a good scare into any opponent with Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis. Both are proven, great scorers, and even though Nowitzki may be past his prime, he’s still one of the better isolation options in late game situations.
Dirk is averaging 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while posting a PER of 24.6. Jose Calderon has quietly been a good addition, and he averages 11.7 points and 4.9 assists per game. The Mavs rank 7th in the NBA in scoring (104.6 points per game), but need to improve the defense slightly as it is allowing 102.3 points per game.
DAL Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 vs teams with losing SU records; OVER 6-1 in last 7 road games vs teams with losing home records; UNDER 5-1 in last 6 vs teams with winning percentages below .400
BOS Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 vs teams with losing road records; UNDER 5-0 in last 5 home games; UNDER 6-1 in last 7 Sunday games.
Head-to-head: Mavericks 5-0 ATS in last 5 meetings; Mavericks 4-0 ATS in last 4 meetings in boston.
