The scene shifts to Texas as the Dallas Mavericks look to climb out of an 0-2 hole. Can the Boston Celtics continue their reign for a 3-0 series lead?

Catch this game live on Monday, June 13, 2024 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

AWAY: Boston Celtics (2-0)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jrue Holiday
  • Derrick White
  • Jaylen Brown
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Kristaps Porzingis 

The Celtics are simply continuing to show why they held the best regular season record from start to finish, all while topping multiple statistical categories on offense and defense. The latter is where they’re shining the most, though, as they have held Non-Luka Doncic Mavericks to a combined 49-of-117 shooting (41.8%).

The abysmal play of star Jayson Tatum will be one to watch out for. He’s a combined 12-of-38 (31.6%) with nine turnovers in two games. However, he’s been grabbing boards and setting up teammates nicely as he’s also putting up 10.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists. He may be due for a monster game.

With or without a big performance from Tatum, though, the Celtics are in great shape. Jaylen Brown is playing well on both ends with 21.5 PPG on 55.6% shooting, plus 3.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest, while Jrue Holiday is at 19.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.0 APG on 65.2 FG%, doing what he does best – defending his man, distributing the ball, and shooting efficiently.

All that and we haven’t even mentioned Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White, who are two-way players who can explode for 25 plus points any day of the week.

HOME: Dallas Mavericks (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Luka Doncic
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Derrick Jones Jr.
  • P.J. Washington
  • Daniel Gafford

The Mavericks have yet to reach the century mark in the series, losing 107-89 in Game 1 and 105-98 in Game 2. It’s quite clear that they have a lot of holes to fill on both ends of the floor.

Luka Doncic is doing his part well offensively, posting 30 points and 10 rebounds in the opener and following it up with a triple-double of 32 points, 11 boards, and 11 assists on Monday. We can expect him to keep scoring at will. While he had four steals in Game 2, though, his overall defense has been horrific.

To add to that, number two man Kyrie Irving isn’t himself too. He’s a combined 13-of-37 (35.7%) thus far, including 0-of-8 from downtown for 14.0 points per game, -11.6 from his season average. We’ll see if he can do better now that he’ll be back in front of the home crowd.

PJ Washington (15.5 PPG) has been Doncic’s top scoring support in the finals, but he has to do more with Irving in a funk. Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and the rest of the cast ought to step up too.

PICKS:

Spread: Mavericks (-2)

Over/Under: Over (213.5)