2024 NBA Finals odds, line, Game 4 time: Mavericks vs. Celtics picks, bets, predictions by proven NBA expert

The Dallas Mavericks will look to avoid being swept when they battle the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Friday. Boston built a big early lead in Game 3 before holding off a late Dallas charge to post a 106-99 win on Wednesday. The Celtics (64-18), who can win their 18th NBA championship, have played well on the road, going 7-0 away from home during the playoffs and 27-14 during the regular season. The Mavericks (50-32), who won their only NBA crown in 2010-11, are 5-4 at home during the postseason and were 25-16 during the regular season. Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is questionable for Boston.

The game from American Airlines Center in Dallas will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Celtics have allowed the third-fewest points per game this postseason at 100.2, while the Mavericks are allowing 104.2, sixth-fewest. The Mavericks are 1-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Mavericks odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 211.5. Before making any Mavericks vs. Celtics picks, be sure to check out what legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.

Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famous betting newsletter, for years and his vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 196-146-3 run that has returned nearly $3,600 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.

Now, he has set his sights on Celtics vs. Mavericks and just locked in his picks and NBA Finals predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the NBA lines and trends for Celtics vs. Mavericks:

• Mavericks vs. Celtics spread: Dallas -1
• Mavericks vs. Celtics over/under: 211.5 points
• Mavericks vs. Celtics money line: Boston -111, Dallas -108
• BOS: The Celtics have hit the fourth-quarter Under in 63 of their last 92 games (+30.80 units)
• DAL: The Mavericks have hit the second-quarter Under in 47 of their last 73 games (+18.35 units)
• Mavericks vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Mavericks can cover

Dallas will need another solid effort from power forward PJ Washington, who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the Game 3 loss. Washington has had a near double-double in all three games, scoring 17 points, while adding seven rebounds, one assist and one block in Game 2. In the series opener, he had 14 points and eight rebounds. In 20 games this postseason, all starts, he is averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 36.8 minutes.

Small forward Derrick Jones Jr. will be looking to his Game 2 form if the Mavericks are to stay alive in the series. In Sunday’s game, he scored 11 points, while adding three rebounds and two assists. He has played a key role a number of times this postseason. In the Western Conference semifinals Game 6 win over Oklahoma City, he scored a playoff-high 22 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists. In 20 postseason starts, Jones is averaging 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one block in 30.4 minutes of play. See which team to pick here.

Why the Celtics can cover

Small forward Jayson Tatum helped make up for the loss of center Kristaps Porzingis, who missed Game 3 due to injury and is again listed as questionable. Tatum poured in 31 points, while adding six rebounds and five assists. Prior to that, he had posted four consecutive double-doubles in a row, including 18 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in Game 2. He had 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and one block in the series opener. He has played well against Dallas and in two regular-season games this year, he averaged 35.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, four assists, 1.5 steals and one block.

Point guard Jrue Holiday continues to come up big when Boston needs him most. In Game 3, he scored nine points, while adding five assists and four rebounds. He recorded a double-double in the 105-98 Game 2 victory, scoring 26 points, while adding 11 rebounds and three assists. In 17 playoff starts, Holiday is averaging 13.2 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 38.1 minutes. See which team to pick here.

How to make Celtics vs. Mavericks picks

Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He has also identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. You can only see his NBA picks and analysis at SportsLine.

So who wins Mavericks vs. Celtics in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Mavericks spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned nearly $3,600 on his NBA picks this seasonand find out.