The 2024 NBA Finals matchup is set. After the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 on Thursday night by a score of 124-103, they advanced to the Finals, where the Boston Celtics are waiting after they swept the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Whichever team wins this series will be crowned the champion of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Celtics have dominated their opponents on the way to the Finals, posting a 12-2 record in the playoffs to this point. The Mavericks have faced a tougher path, but they still have won in convincing fashion, posting a 12-5 record so far. Given how good they have been all season, though, Boston has opened as the favorite to win this series over Dallas, with their odds coming in at -230. On the other hand, the Mavericks are the underdogs, with their odds being set at +180.
Celtics-Mavericks set to be an entertaining Finals series
The Celtics and Mavericks have been the two best teams throughout the postseason, and they will both be each other's biggest test in their Finals matchup. Boston hasn't faced an opponent as good as Dallas to this point in the playoffs, and while the Mavericks are a more battle-tested team, their depth will be put to the challenge against arguably the deepest roster in the league.
There are tons of good storylines to go around in this series. Kyrie Irving will be making his return to Boston, and Kristaps Porzingis will be making his return to Dallas, while also potentially taking the court for the first time since their first-round series against the Miami Heat. By the end of this series, at least one of Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown will have a title to their name, further adding to their already well-established legacies.
With so much on the line, this series should be a close one, which makes the Mavericks at plus-odds a potentially good investment. The gap between the two teams doesn't appear to be all that large, and taking the Celtics at odds greater than -200 doesn't offer much value. They still should be favored to win, but picking Dallas is the more valuable play for bettors who are looking to make some money on this series.
Even if you aren't betting, though, it's always interesting to see what the lines end up being set at, and who the books view as the favorite and the underdog. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the Celtics are favored, but if there's one team that can upset them in the Finals, it's the Mavericks. This is going to be a great series one way or another, but if you are looking to make some money in the process, taking Dallas at plus-odds may be your best bet to do so.
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