The Boston Celtics are set to host the Dallas Mavericks in one of the prime games on display in the NBA Friday night. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET at the Garden, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Taking a looking at the NBA spreads for this game, oddsmakers have the Celtics favored by six points over the Mavericks with the total set at 190.
Dallas comes in having won six straight thanks to a 113-97 win at New York on Wednesday. The win improved the Mavericks to 14-7 on the road this season.
That road record will be put to the test against the Celtics. Boston has won six straight and is 22-3 at home this season. The Celtics come in off a 95-90 win at Sacramento on Tuesday, ending a four-game road trip 3-1.
The Mavericks are once again looking like a team that is going to be a force in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki is looking better and better with each game back, and the Mavericks defense is playing with a purpose right now.
Nowitzki scored 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting against the Knicks, and he has had a field day against the Celtics in his career, averaging 27.3 points.
Dallas is going to need more than just a big night from Nowitzki to beat Boston. Jason Kidd has been hit or miss with his point production, but whether he scores or not, he has to have a good game for Dallas to win.
I think it will also be key that the Mavericks get some big production out of their bench players. Jose Juan Barea had 22 points, Jason Terry added 12 and Shawn Marion helped out with five points and 10 rebounds in their last game against the Knicks.
One concern the Celtics must have is that all three of their home losses have come against the Western Conference, but this team loves playing against the best teams in the league.
Boston got a game-high 22 points from Ray Allen in its latest win over the Kings. Rajon Rondo helped out with 17 points and 10 assists, Paul Pierce put in 15 and Kevin Garnett added just 12. Boston also got 14 from Glen Davis and eight from Kendrick Perkins off the bench.
While the Celtics did a good job of spreading the wealth offensively, it was their defense that won them the game against Sacramento. Boston trailed by nine points after the first half but held the Kings to just 36 points in the second half.
Boston won't be able to fall behind and expect to come back as easily against the Mavericks, as they also play pretty well on the defensive side of the ball. Dallas beat Boston 89-87 back on Nov. 8, and I think that will be enough motivation for the Celtics to win this game and cover the spread.
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Originally posted at www.betfirms.com.
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