It’s a change of venue in the NBA Finals, but the Boston Celtics are hoping the script isn’t flipped. Boston has been favored to win the title since the outset of the season, now two wins away in its quest to raise what would be a league-best 18th banner.
Celtics’ ‘Other’ Heroes
The Boston Celtics were the better team at home to begin the series, forcing the Dallas Mavericks to try and return the favor in Texas. The second game was much closer (seven points) than an 18-point opener, Boston managing to prevail despite some self-inflicted wounds.
It’s the Mavs as tepid two-point choices in Game 3 Wednesday nite, according to NBA odds.
It was former Maverick Kristaps Porzingis, back after an elongated injured calf, leading the way (20 points, six rebounds) as Boston owned a 17-point lead after the opening quarter. Porzingis suffered an apparent leg injury in the second game, though he insists it’s nothing serious.
That second game had a new star in Jrue Holiday (26 points, 11 rebounds),
Meanwhile, Boston’s 1-2 punch of Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum has been consistent (Game 1 with a combined 38 points, Game 2 with 39) is not spectacular.
Mavericks Need Balance
Luka Doncic is leading all scorers in the Finals with 62 points (30 and 32, respectively), adding 21 rebounds and a dozen assists. He’s not getting much in the way of help, however. As a team, Dallas is averaging just 93½ points thus far.
Kyrie Irving, the former Celtic, has missed all eight three-point attempts in the series, scoring just 28 points in the two games, That was barely more than his single-game average (25.6 points/game) this past season.
P.J. Washington has a combined 31 points and 15 boards.
Pricing the Series
Dallas hasn’t been overwhelming at home this season, 30-19 including the postseason. Boston’s a league-best 33-14 on the road, again including postseason.
Boston, halfway to paradise, is now a nearly unbettable -775 to close the sale Dallas is at 23-4 (+575), as per NBA series odds. There are also any number of props with this game
List of Champions
Here is today’s history lesson, a list of all previous NBA champions…
2023: Denver Nuggets defeated Miami Heat (4-1)
2022: Golden State Warriors defeated Boston Celtics (4-2)
2021: Milwaukee Bucks defeated Phoenix Suns (4-2)
2020: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Miami Heat (4-2)
2019: Toronto Raptors defeated Golden State Warriors (4-2)
2018: Golden State Warriors defeated Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)
2017: Golden State Warriors defeated Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1)
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Golden State Warriors (4-3)
2015: Golden State Warriors defeated Cleveland Cavaliers (4-2)
2014: San Antonio Spurs defeated Miami Heat (4-1)
2013: Miami Heat defeated San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
2012: Miami Heat defeated Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1)
2011: Dallas Mavericks defeated Miami Heat (4-2)
2010: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Boston Celtics (4-3)
2009: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Orlando Magic (4-1)
2008: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
2007: San Antonio Spurs defeated Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)
2006: Miami Heat defeated Dallas Mavericks (4-2)
2005: San Antonio Spurs defeated Detroit Pistons (4-3)
2004: Detroit Pistons defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
2003: San Antonio Spurs defeated New Jersey Nets (4-2)
2002: Los Angeles Lakers defeated New Jersey Nets (4-0)
2001: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-1)
2000: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Indiana Pacers (4-2)
1999: San Antonio Spurs defeated New York Knicks (4-1)
1998: Chicago Bulls defeated Utah Jazz (4-2)
1997: Chicago Bulls defeated Utah Jazz (4-2)
1996: Chicago Bulls defeated Seattle SuperSonics (4-2)
1995: Houston Rockets defeated Orlando Magic (4-0)
1994: Houston Rockets defeated New York Knicks (4-3)
1993: Chicago Bulls defeated Phoenix Suns (4-2)
1992: Chicago Bulls defeated Portland Trail Blazers (4-2)
1991: Chicago Bulls defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1990: Detroit Pistons defeated Portland Trail Blazers (4-1)
1989: Detroit Pistons defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-0)
1988: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Detroit Pistons (4-3)
1987: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Boston Celtics (4-2)
1986: Boston Celtics defeated Houston Rockets (4-2)
1985: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Boston Celtics (4-2)
1984: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1983: Philadelphia 76ers defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-0)
1982: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1981: Boston Celtics defeated Houston Rockets (4-2)
1980: Los Angeles Lakers defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1979: Seattle SuperSonics defeated Washington Bullets (4-1)
1978: Washington Bullets defeated Seattle SuperSonics (4-3)
1977: Portland Trail Blazers defeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)
1976: Boston Celtics defeated Phoenix Suns (4-2)
1975: Golden State Warriors defeated Washington Bullets (4-0)
1974: Boston Celtics defeated Milwaukee Bucks (4-3)
1973: New York Knicks defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1972: Los Angeles Lakers defeated New York Knicks (4-1)
1971: Milwaukee Bucks defeated Baltimore Bullets (4-0)
1970: New York Knicks defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1969: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1968: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
1967: Philadelphia 76ers defeated San Francisco Warriors (4-2)
1966: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1965: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
1964: Boston Celtics defeated San Francisco Warriors (4-1)
1963: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
1962: Boston Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)
1961: Boston Celtics defeated St. Louis Hawks (4-1)
1960: Boston Celtics defeated St. Louis Hawks (4-3)
1959: Boston Celtics defeated Minneapolis Lakers (4-0)
1958: St. Louis Hawks defeated Boston Celtics (4-2)
1957: Boston Celtics defeated St. Louis Hawks (4-3)
1956: Philadelphia Warriors defeated Fort Wayne Pistons (4-1)
1955: Syracuse Nationals defeated Fort Wayne Pistons (4-3)
1954: Minneapolis Lakers defeated Syracuse Nationals (4-3)
1953: Minneapolis Lakers defeated New York Knicks (4-1)
1952: Minneapolis Lakers defeated New York Knicks (4-3)
1951: Rochester Royals defeated New York Knicks (4-3)
1950: Minneapolis Lakers defeated Syracuse Nationals (4-2)
1949: Minneapolis Lakers defeated Washington Capitols (4-2)
