2024 NBA Finals Predictions: Experts Predict Celtics vs. Mavs, Published on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics are the favorites going into the NBA Finals in 2024, and rightly so. They had the best regular season record (64-18) and then dominated the Eastern Conference playoffs, winning 12 of 14 games.
However, despite the impressive stats and results, many people not only believe that the Dallas Mavericks have a great chance to win the series, but actually expect the Mavericks to pull off the upset.
For example, ESPN released its expert predictions for the series on Thursday, and nine of the 17 predictions were in favor of the Mavericks.
The Mavericks are a very good team, beating 50-win teams three times in the Western Conference playoffs to reach the Finals, with Luka Doncic arguably the best player in the series and teammate Kyrie Irving an elite offensive player with championship experience.
But the Celtics are the more talented and deep team, and as the table below shows, they rank in the top three in most statistics during the playoffs.
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Will the Celtics win their league-record 18th championship, or will the Mavericks pull off another upset and win their franchise’s second title?
Here are expert predictions for Celtics vs. Mavs (including game numbers where available).
Game 1 will be played Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET in Boston, with NBC Sports Boston coverage beginning at 7 p.m. Celtics Pregame Live.
Zach Lowe, ESPN: Celtics win 6 games
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN: Celtics
Kendrick Perkins, ESPN: Celtics in 7 games
Tim Bontemps, ESPN: Celtics win 6 games
Israel Gutierrez, ESPN: Mavs win six games
Chris Herring, ESPN: Mavs win six games
Tim Legler, ESPN: Mavs win seven games
Bobby Marks, ESPN: Mavs win six games
Dave McMenamin, ESPN: Mavs win six games
Kevin Pelton, ESPN: Celtics in 7 games
Ryan Russillo, The Ringer: Celtics in 7 games
John Hollinger, The Athletic: Celtics win 6 games
Charles Barkley, NBA on TNT: Celtics
Kenny Smith, NBA on TNT: Celtics
Shaquille O’Neal, NBA on TNT: Mabus
Draymond Green, Warriors/NBA on TNT: Mavs win six games
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, SiriusXM: Celtics win 6 games
Nick Wright, FOX Sports 1: Mavs win five games
Chris Brassard, FOX Sports 1: Mavs win six games
By Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: Celtics win 6 games
James Herbert, CBS Sports: Celtics
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports: Mabus
