NBA Betting Odds – Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics (-4.5)

Mavericks vs. Celtics (-4.5)
(O/U) 195.5
Monday, January 18 – 8:00 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks (26-14 SU, 18-22 ATS, 21-19 O/U) have lost three of their last four games. The Boston Celtics (27-11 SU, 17-21 ATS, 19-18-1 O/U) have dropped three of their last five.

The C’s have a legitimate reason for their uninspiring play recently, as they’ve had a rash of injuries to their start players.

The two elite contenders will meet tonight at Boston’s TD Garden looking to get back in the win column following losses in their respective last outings.

Here are some key NBA betting trends surrounding tonight’s matchup:

• Mavericks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• Mavericks are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games.
• Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
• Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
• Mavericks are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

Dallas Mavericks

Despite being fully healthy, the Mavericks were absolutely routed by the Toronto Raptors 110-88 on Sunday, failing to cover the NBA moneyline as a pick’em to fall to 0-4 ATS over their last four games and a bankroll-breaking 1-6 ATS over their last seven overall.

The Mavericks haven’t topped the 100-point plateau in any of their last four games while allowing at least the same amount of points in three games during the stretch.

Boston Celtics

The short-handed Celtics are playing without three of their top seven players with Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels all out of the lineup.

Mavericks vs. Celtics -4.5 >> Join Now to Bet!

Boston was upset 96-83 by the Chicago Bulls on Friday, failing to cover the NBA moneyline as a 6.5-point home favorite to fall to 2-3 ATS over the last five games and 4-6 ATS over the last 10 games overall.

Analysis: I had some really high hopes for the Mavericks out west this season and believe they have plenty of time to get back on track after going slightly off course over the last two weeks.

Still, I’m disappointed by the Mavs as they have far too much talent to be losing games by over 20 points to anyone.

The fact that the Mavs are still a bit soft in the low post, aren’t playing very well right now – and underachieve when you least expect it – would generally cause me to go against Dallas in this road matchup against the elite Celtics.

But with Boston looking like a bunch of banged-up Revolutionary War-era Minutemen, I’m going to back the Dallas Mavericks to cover the NBA moneyline in this matchup, likely with the outright win.

I‘m sure the Mavericks will bring their collective ‘A’ game tonight as they measure themselves against arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics have already lost six games at home this season and the Mavericks have been solid on the road, going 13-7 SU and ATS away from the Lone Star state. Adding injury to insult is the fact that Boston has also gone a pitiful 6-11 ATS at home this season.

The ATS trends for this contest also point to a Dallas ATS win with the Mavericks going 5-2 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games.

Play the Mavericks to cover the NBA point spread as slight road dogs.

NBA Expert Pick: Mavericks +4.5 Points