NBA Finals 2024 (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics have reached the NBA finals after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now they are set to face the Dallas Mavericks, whose team eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals in five games.

Boston Celtics Team News

This marks the Celtics’ second NBA Final appearance in the last three years. A significant part of this success can be attributed to their star duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, acquired through a controversial 2013 trade. Brown has already secured the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, while Tatum’s contributions have also been highly praised.

However, numerous analysts believe that the Celtics’ path to the Finals has been somewhat easier compared to the Mavericks. This perspective arises from the fact that key Pacers players Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Haliburton missed critical games, thereby giving the Celtics a more favorable position in their playoff run.

Dallas Mavericks Team News

The Mavericks have returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since their 2011 championship run. This achievement has been primarily driven by the exceptional performances of Luka Doncic, who has been outstanding throughout the series and earned the Western Conference Finals MVP title. Kyrie Irving also played a crucial role in the Mavericks’ success.

This upcoming Finals match-up between the Celtics and the Mavericks is particularly intriguing for Kyrie Irving, who will face his former team. Irving spent two seasons with the Celtics.

Prediction for NBA Finals Game 1

The Celtics enjoy home-court advantage this time, a benefit they lacked in their previous Finals appearances in 2010 and 2022. With the anticipated return of Porzingis, Boston stands a strong chance against Dallas. Additionally, the Celtics have shown significant improvement in clutch situations, which boosts optimism about their prospects in the series.

However, the primary concern for the Celtics revolves around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. These two are considered among their generation’s best offensive players, averaging 59.4 points per game in the Western Conference Finals. The presence of Daniel Gafford and rookie center Dereck Lively III could also pose challenges to the Celtics’ championship aspirations.

Nonetheless, the Mavericks will face a formidable defensive challenge from Boston’s Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. This duo will be Dallas’s toughest defensive test yet in the Finals.

Celtics vs. Mavs Head-to-Head Stats

The Boston Celtics have won four of their last five games against the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics’ last win came on February 3, 2024, when they defeated the Mavericks with a score of 138-110.

In their last five matches, the Mavs won against the Celtics on March 14, 2022. They edged out a close 95-92 victory over the Celtics in that match.

The NBA finals between the Mavericks and Celtics will be held on June 6.