Yahoo Sports 2024 NBA Finals: Odds, schedule, MVP favorites for Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks
With the Dallas Mavericks' resounding victory, 124-103, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the 2024 NBA Playoffs are down to the final series: the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics completed a sweep of the Indiana Pacers to secure their second berth in the Finals in the last three seasons. The Mavericks' 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves gives them their first Finals appearance since 2011, when Dallas beat the Miami Heat in six games.
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Game 1 doesn't tip off until June 6 but here are the initial odds for the NBA Finals from BetMGM:
2024 NBA Finals: Championship winner odds
Boston Celtics (-225)
The Celtics went 12-2 on their run through the Eastern Conference. Boston ranks second in points per game (111.4) and third in points allowed per game (101.3) in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown earned East Finals MVP for his effort in the win over Indiana, including a 40-point performance in Game 2.
The Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals in six games with this core of players. They were the only 60-win team in the league during the regular season. Even with Kristaps Porzingis' health in question, this is a dangerous, deep team with experience in the Finals.
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Dallas Mavericks (+180)
Dallas knocked out the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the first round before doing the same to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. The series win over the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals put them in rarified air. They're the lowest seed to make the NBA Finals out of the West since the 1995 Houston Rockets won the championship as a No. 6 seed.
Dallas had multiple last-second comeback victories in the series to show their playoff mettle. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving are one of the top scoring tandems in the playoffs and have shown up in clutch moments for the Mavericks.
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2024 NBA Finals: Finals MVP odds
1. Jayson Tatum, BOS (-135)
Tatum's the favorite despite Brown winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors. He's leading the Celtics in points (26.0), rebounds (10.4), and assists (5.9) per game in the playoffs. The last four Finals MVP winners have led the series in points per game. He's the favorite for good reason, especially if he continues at this rate.
2. Luka Dončić, DAL (+190)
Speaking of leading scorers, Dončić has played in eight career playoff series. Of those eight, he's led the series in points per game six times. The other two times he finished second.
He'll very likely be the top scorer for the Mavericks and is averaging 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game in the playoffs. If Dallas wins the Finals, he's a near-lock for Finals MVP.
3. Jaylen Brown, BOS (+550)
Brown is posting career-highs in points per game (25.0) and shooting percentage (54.1%) in the playoffs this season. The Eastern Conference Finals MVP has a strong case to do it again in the Finals after his performance against the Pacers.
The last time Boston made the playoffs, Brown outplayed Tatum on the biggest stage. He averaged more points (23.6 to 21.5) and shot better (43.1% to 36.6%). It could happen again.
4. Kyrie Irving, DAL (+1200)
Irving's the only player in these odds with an NBA title. The Cavaliers' 2016 NBA championship took Irving's clutch shots to earn a win in Game 7 over the Warriors.
On top of his experience, Irving's enjoying arguably the best playoffs of his career and shooting a career-high 48.5% from the field. Even in his low-scoring games, he's contributing in other ways. He's scored less than 10 points twice in the playoffs so far. In those games, he's tallied a combined 20 assists to just three turnovers.
2024 NBA Finals: Schedule, how to watch
Games | Location | Date/Time/Results | TV/Streaming |
Game 1 | TD Garden, Boston | Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 2 | TD Garden, Boston | Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 3 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Wednesday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 4 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Friday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 5(If necessary) | TD Garden, Boston | Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 6(If necessary) | American Airlines Center, Dallas | Thursday, June 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
Game 7(If necessary) | TD Garden, Boston | Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+ |
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mavericks vs. Celtics: Odds, MVP favorites for 2024 NBA Finals
