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Dan Shapiro here in for Carrie Stroup who has the day off and I have a look at the Celtics-Mavs line where Dallas was listed as the -7.5 home favorite. All updated betting odds can be found here at Sportsbook.com where you can receive up to $250 in FREE CASH based on your initial deposit.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Dallas -7.5 & 178.5
Opening Line & Total: Mavs -7 & 180.5
The slumping Celtics look to get back on track Monday night when they visit a Dallas team licking its wounds after allowing 104 points in New York on Sunday.
Boston has dropped three in row, including two to lowly Detroit, but the team has played well in Big D, winning six straight ATS, including three SU wins in the past four trips. Paul Pierce has 27.2 PPG (51.4% FG) in these past six visits to Dallas. The Mavs have been out-rebounded by 14 boards over the past four games. And the Celtics have another strong trend in their favor, as Doc Rivers is 28-6 ATS (82.4%) as Boston's coach in road games after having lost 5 or 6 of the past 7 games.
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The Celtics couldn’t do much right in Sunday’s 96-81 loss in Detroit, shooting just 44% from the floor and turning the ball over 22 times. Some of that had to do with a frustrated Rajon Rondo (14.8 PPG, 9.5 APG) who was 1-of-6 FG with six turnovers before getting ejected in the third quarter. Rondo’s play will be key for Boston, especially considering he scored 24 points the last time he faced Dallas on Jan. 11, a 90-85 defeat. Kevin Garnett had 16 in that meeting, but his status is uncertain for Monday’s game after not playing Sunday due to personal reasons. If Garnett can’t go, Chris Wilcox (5.3 PPG) will remain in the starting lineup for the fourth time in five games. Wilcox is averaging 14.0 PPG (68% FG) and 8.0 RPG in those three starts this season.
Despite allowing the Knicks to score 104 points Sunday, Dallas has been a very good defensive team all season, holding opponents to 91.2 PPG on 41.6% FG. Star PF Dirk Nowitzki (19.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG) battled injuries for the early part of the season, but he is starting to get on a roll with 25.3 PPG on 51% FG in his past nine games. He scored 34 points (11-of-20 FG) in Sunday’s loss. Jason Terry (14.7 PPG), who missed the previous two games due to a quad injury and personal reasons, was able to return on Sunday. He played pretty well with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but shot just 3-of-10 from three-point range. In his past five games versus the Celtics, Terry is averaging 15.6 PPG on just 42.9% FG. Vince Carter (10.9 PPG) usually plays well against Boston, averaging 21.4 PPG in 47 career meetings with the Celtics.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
