Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 1/4/2019

Friday, January 4, 2019

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Friday, January 4, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 4.5 point favorites.

The Mavericks head into this matchup with a mark of 18-19. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.2 as they average 110.9 points per contest while giving up 109.7 per game. The Celtics have an overall mark of 22-15. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 111.7 points per contest and give up 105.9, which is a point differential of 5.8.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 22-14-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 19-16-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 18-18-0 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 23-13-0 against the over/under

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/19/18 C Aron Baynes Hand is out indefinitely
01/02/19 PG Kyrie Irving Eye is questionable Friday vs Dallas
01/02/19 F Marcus Morris Neck left last game, is questionable Friday vs Dallas

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic comes into this contest averaging 19.5 points per game while playing 32.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 76%. Harrison Barnes averages 18.5 points per game in 32.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Jayson Tatum averages 16.0 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.5 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Kyrie Irving averages 23.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.9 rebounds per contest and 6.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas averages 110.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 45.8 rebounds per game and 22.9 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 15.5 per game. The Mavericks allow 109.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 16th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 9th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 24.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 14th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 12th in the league with 111.7 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.8. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 16th in the league in rebounding with 45.0 boards per game, and 7th in assists per contest with 25.6. The Celtics are 25th in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Celtics surrender 105.9 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 5th and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest and 19th with 45.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 25th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.5 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.2, and their defensive rating of 109 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 15th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league. Dallas is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 16th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.8, and their defensive rating of 106 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 98.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Mavericks/Celtics NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Boston -4.5

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