The Boston Celtics are the odds-on favorite to win the NBA Finals. However, the Dallas Mavericks knocked out some of the West's giants to make it to the final round. It is shaping up to be a series high on dramatics.
We have Kyrie Irving returning to Boston to try and break the hearts of the fans and Luka Doncic squaring off with Jayson Tatum in a battle of the game's young stars. These teams played twice this season, with the Celtics winning two by a combined 37 points. Can the Celtics continue their dominance and win their first NBA Championship since 2008? Or will the Mavericks spoil the party in Boston like the Warriors did in 2022? Let's look at how to watch the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks.
Where is the Mavericks vs. Celtics series?
With the best record in the NBA, Boston has a homecourt advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. That means they will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Dallas was the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Their home games are played at the American Airlines Center, which will host Games 3, 4, and 6. You can watch every NBA Finals game on ABC.
How to watch the NBA Finals
Game 1: Mavericks @ Celtics on Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Game 2: Mavericks @ Celtics on Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET – ABC
Game 3: Celtics @ Mavericks on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Game 4: Celtics @ Mavericks on Friday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Game 5: Mavericks @ Celtics on Monday, June 17 at TBD. – ABC
Game 6: Celtics @ Mavericks on Thursday, June 20 at TBD. – ABC
Game 7: Mavericks @ Celtics on Sunday, June 23 at TBD. – ABC
Mavericks storylines
The Mavericks should have no trepidations about facing the Celtics, as they've already eliminated three of the West's top four seeds throughout these playoffs.
Dallas took care of the Clippers in Round One, then took down the West's top seed in Round Two by outdueling the Thunder. After the Timberwolves eliminated the defending NBA champion Nuggets, Minnesota looked like a team prepared to make their first NBA Finals.
However, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were too much for Anthony Edwards. The depth additions for Nico Harrison in the offseason are the real reason for Doncic and Irving's success. Derrick Jones Jr, PJ Washington, and rookie Dereck Lively II are essential to the Mavs' road to the finals.
The big question entering the finals is the health of Derrick Lively II and Luka Doncic. Doncic suffered a right knee injury during the first round, causing his points per game to decrease by five points and his effective field goal percentage to drop by 6.2%. Dereck Lively II sat out Game 4 with a sprained neck but returned for Game 5, racking up nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
If Lively II is healthy for the entire finals, he and Daniel Gafford will help the Mavericks win the inside battle, which could sway the title in their direction.
Celtics storylines
The Boston Celtics' run through the Eastern Conference in the regular season was historic, as they posted the most conference wins since the Miami Heat in 2012-13. The Celtics are a fresh team, as they lost just two games through the first three rounds, and will use their sweep of the Pacers to get some players healthy.
Kristaps Porzingis has been out of the lineup since the first round with a calf strain. Porzingis will be a crucial addition to the front-court to help offset the Dallas duo. The nine-day break between the end of the Eastern Conference Final and the start of the NBA Final will also help aging veterans like Al Horford.
The storyline surrounding the Celtics is their “easy” path to the NBA Finals. The Celtics have run over every team put in their way this season, regardless of quality. At some point, the masses may have to consider that the Celtics are just a dominant team, not the benefactors of a weak path.
It's the Celtics' second crack at the NBA Finals in the Tatum and Jaylen Brown era, as the Golden State Warriors defeated them in six games in 2022. They have a better idea of what to expect the second time around, and they have a better-supporting cast with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and a rejuvenated Derrick White.
Follow Us
Subscribe