Betting on NBA Today? Don’t miss the Mavericks vs Celtics Odds & Prediction

It’s a perfct rivalry for betting on NBA, this is a rematch of the 2024 NBA Finals highlights Thursday’s slate around the Association as the Dallas Mavericks, who may see Anthony Davis make his team debut, visit the Boston Celtics.

The C’s will be solid favorites on the NBA odds but by how much partly depends on if Davis plays.

Betting on NBA Mavericks vs Celtics & TV Info

NBA Moneylines: Celtics -545 / Mavericks +387
When: Thursday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Max

Dallas Mavericks Insights

Anthony Davis

As of this writing, it’s not clear whether trade addition Davis from the Lakers will debut with Dallas in this game or Saturday, as he has been out with a minor injury (look at the odds before betting on NBA). Mavericks fans have reacted with outrage to the shocking trade that sent 25-year-old superstar Luka Dončić, a five-time first-team All-NBA selection who is entering his prime, to the Lakers along with reserve forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in exchange for 31-year-old All-NBA big man Davis, wing Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

About the Trade

Fans protested outside the American Airlines Center on Sunday, the day after the deal was made. The Mavs have offered refunds to fans who have canceled season tickets in the wake of the trade. “I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organization,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison said Sunday. “It’s going to make us better. We believe that it sets us up to win, not only now, but also in the future. And when we win, I believe the frustration will go away.”

Quentin Grimes

Dallas made another trade in shipping guard Grimes to Philadelphia for forward Caleb Martin, and barring Martin being traded again he should make his team debut. The 29-year-old is averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds primarily as a starter during the first season of a four-year, $35 million contract that includes a player option for 2027-28. He is a versatile wing who is a proven playoff performer, averaging 9.1 points while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range in 45 career postseason games. Grimes had been one of the Mavericks’ key arrivals in the offseason when they traded Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to get him from Detroit.

Last Game Review

The Mavericks enter on a three-game skid overall and are 0-2 since the Doncic trade following a 118-116 defeat in Philadelphia. While Davis didn’t play but was courtside, Christie made his debut with 15 points.

Jason Kidd

“Christie was great,” coach Kidd said. “Both sides of the ball, defensively and offensively, he was better than advertised. I thought he did a perfect job for the first game with no practice. He showed his skills of being a basketball player on both sides of the floor. He showed his basketball IQ on the offensive end and defensively, he’s going to compete.”

Kyrie Irving

Irving led all scorers with 34 points. It was Irving’s ninth game of the season with at least 30 points, and he’s averaging 26.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists across his last nine appearances largely carrying the offense.

Daniel Gafford

Forward Gafford, who has been playing really well lately, said that he expects to be available after exiting with 3:20 in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s loss with a left shoulder injury. Gafford noted that the injury stemmed from him getting hit in the head, resulting in his neck jamming up before his left shoulder started to feel numb. He had 12 points, six boards and two blocks. When Davis does debut, though, Gafford might lose some playing time after he has logged 30-plus minutes in seven of his last 10 appearances.

Boston Celtics Insights

The Trade

The Celtics made a minor trade Wednesday, sending seldom-used Jaden Springer and a 2030 second-round pick to the Rockets. It’s simply a cost-cutting move for the Celtics.

Last Game Review

If the Celtics do anything ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, it will be minor. They won a fourth straight game on Tuesday, 112-105 in Cleveland in a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview. It was only the Cavs’ fourth home loss in 28 games. After the Cavs pulled within four late in the fourth, Derrick White hit a short jumper followed by back-to-back 3-pointers to give Boston a 107-97 lead with 2:41 left. Cleveland started just 1 of 14 on 3-pointers and finished 11 of 39 (28%) behind the arc.

Defense was the story of this game as Boston logged 10 steals, six blocks, and held the East-leading Cavs to a season-low field-goal percentage of 39.6 percent while also limiting them to their third-lowest point total. Boston limited star Cleveland forward Evan Mobley to just seven points on 3-of-14 shooting.

Joe Mazzulla

Coach Mazzulla said the team displayed “really good ball pressure” throughout most of the game, which was a result of “great attention to detail on the game plan. … I thought we did a good job just taking away some of the margins, some of the easy baskets that they’re able to create because of the type of players that they have and the type of offense that they run.”

Jayson Tatum

Tatum scored 22 points and White added 20 to lead Boston, while Jaylen Brown was held to 16 points in 28 minutes due to foul trouble. Tuesday broke a five-game streak of 20-plus points for Brown. Tatum is one of only four NBA players averaging at least 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists this season (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić). He has scored at least 15 points in 86 consecutive games dating to Jan. 13, 2024, the longest such scoring streak of his career and the longest active streak in the NBA. It also marks the 15th longest streak in the last 25 years.

Derrick White

White, meanwhile, has looked great during the Celtics’ recent winning streak. Over these four games, he’s at 18.8 points and 4.8 assists on 52.1/48.6/70.0 splits. He has made at least six three-pointers in a career-high six games this season, after posting five such games last year. Over the last four games, White has made the third-most threes in the NBA, connecting on 18-of-37 attempts from beyond the arc (.486). For the season, the Celtics are now 19-3 when White shoots 50% or better from the floor and 17-12 when he’s below 50% or does not play (this is something to consider when betting on NBA).

“When he plays that way we’re a completely different team,” Mazzulla said. “It’s important he keeps that up because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. That’s who he is. The late-game shot-making, the ability to make plays, that’s who he is for us and we have to fight to make sure he keeps that belief and confidence.”

Payton Pritchard

Pritchard leads all NBA reserves in points (686), three-pointers (158), and plus/minus (+297). He also ranks 3rd in assists (169) and 2nd in rebounds among guards (181).

Mavericks vs Celtics Season Series

Of course, the Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals and Boston also won the first meeting this season, 122-107 in Dallas on Jan. 25. Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White added 23, including Boston’s first 11 of the third quarter, and Jaylen Brown had 22 points. The Celtics shrugged off an early 16-6 deficit and led by as many as 25 points in the third period. White scored 16 in the period. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points and Quentin Grimes added 20 off the bench for Dallas. Luka Doncic was out injured but of course has since been traded. The Celtics have won five straight and 12 of the last 17 meetings.

NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️

▪️ CLE, OKC stay atop conferences with wins
▪️ DEN (West #4) wins 4th straight
▪️ MEM (West #2) 10-1 in L11

Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/pBKIAWNToa pic.twitter.com/cRdStatk1Q

— NBA (@NBA) February 6, 2025

NBA Betting Center

---

Updated NBA Odds | Sportsbook Lines

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later