The Boston Celtics will tip off a busy stretch of six games in 10 days Wednesday when they face the Dallas Mavericks as home betting favorites on the NBA point spreads at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Boston wrapped up a two-game road trip in disappointing fashion Monday, dropping a 106-105 decision in New Orleans as 3 1/2-point chalk. That dropped its straight-up record to 5-5 ahead of Wednesday night’s Mavericks vs. Celtics betting matchup at TD Garden.
The loss to the Pelicans marked Boston’s second outright defeat as favorites in five games and showcased its ongoing struggles with consistency, which are highlighted by the club’s current 2-3 run against the spread.
However, the Celtics also have held opponents to fewer than 100 points in two of their past three games, and have forced the point total under in each of their past four, and seven of nine.
But that hasn’t saved them from some blowout defeats, including recent losses to the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards by a combined margin of 41 points. Boston also has failed to produce when favored by more than three points, going a dismal 3-7 ATS in its past 10 such outings.
The team’s woes extend to recent dates with the Mavericks, who have dominated with seven straight SU wins. Dallas also is 11-1 SU in its past 12 against the Celtics, covering on nine occasions, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
But the Mavericks have stumbled out of the gate this season, opening on a brutal 2-7 SU and ATS run that leaves them in 14th place in the Western Conference.
Dallas also has been routed in two straight ahead of its clash with the Celtics, falling 93-77 to the New York Knicks as four-point road underdogs on Monday after taking a 116-95 pounding from the Golden State Warriors last Wednesday as 18 1/2-point road underdogs.
Things get tougher for the Celtics on Friday night when the Warriors come to town.
Golden State commences a four-game road trip in Toronto on Wednesday, pegged as five-point chalk in its matchup with the Raptors. The Warriors have averaged 122.5 points per game during a four-game win streak, and they have posted SU wins in their past three visits to Boston.
However, Golden State is a middling 4-6 ATS this season, and it has picked up the ATS win just once in its last seven games against the Celtics.
The Celtics hit the road for three games following their date with Golden State, starting with a Saturday matchup against the Detroit Pistons, followed by visits to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets next week.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
