With a Dallas Mavericks Game 1 NBA Finals matchup scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Thursday against the Boston Celtics, the basketball world will be focused on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks. Ahead of tonight's game, it's time to make our Dallas Mavericks bold Game 1 predictions.
The Mavericks are coming off of a 4-1 series win over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves with designs on their first NBA championship in franchise history. The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers and are looking to win their first NBA championship since 2008, when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo roamed from sideline-to-sideline at the TD Garden in Boston.
The Celtics were earmarked as a 6.5-point favorite heading into Thursday night's action after their impressive showing against Coach Rick Carlisle's Indiana Pacers. If the Mavericks can steal Game 1 on the road, Doncic, Irving and Coach Jason Kidd's team has a chance to bring two wins back to Dallas with them for Game 3 on Wednesday.
With that information in mind, it's time to move on to our Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 1 predictions.
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Luka Doncic will score 35-plus points
Doncic has been on fire heading down the stretch of the NBA Playoffs and his brilliant all-around offensive game appears built for the big stage. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are smart defenders but Doncic is craftier than both of them.
Whichever defensive assignment Doncic draws will prove to be a nightmare for the hometown Celtics. Expect the Celtics to throw extra bodies at Doncic including ace backcourt defender Jrue Holiday at times. Big defender, small defender, it won't matter. Doncic is going for 35 plus points in Game 1 and the Mavericks could win the game solely on the strength and talent of his ‘magic' right hand.
Kryie Irving will dish out 8-plus assists
Irving is no stranger to the big stage himself, having sunk one of the most iconic shots in recent NBA Finals history to beat the Golden State Warriors with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Irving has been taking on a bigger scoring load than usual for the Mavericks in challenging contests against Edwards and the Timberwolves. Expect a more balanced approach and attack against the Celtics with Irving serving as the engine to Dallas' offensive system for Game 1 and beyond against the Celtics.
The man known as ‘Uncle Drew,' according to his ‘old man' alter ego, at least, is primed and ready to become a plus scorer and distributor yet again. He could rack up 13-15 assists in this game and many of them will likely go to Luka Doncic who will do his best Larry Bird impersonation on Thursday evening.
The Mavericks Will Lose Game 1, but steal Game 2
This is something of a bonus prediction but expect the Mavericks to lose Game 1 on the road and bounce back to steal Game 2.
The Mavericks have youth, energy and tenacity on their side but the Celtics have been waiting for another crack at Finals glory since losing four games to two to the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
Expect a multi-faceted attack from the Celtics in Game 1 and a big win in Beantown. It will prove to be a setup for Jason Kidd's Mavericks against Ime Udoka's Celtics as the Mavericks will win a close one in Game 2, sending the series back to Dallas tied at one game each for what could be Doncic's best performance ever in Game 3.
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