Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Prediction 3/6/2026 Today’s NBA Picks

The Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics duke it out at the TD Garden on Friday night. Here’s a Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics prediction. This article will include a Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics pick.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Preview 

The Dallas Mavericks have been ice-cold lately, as they’ve lost 15 of their last 17 games and they will be hoping to arrest a five-game slide after getting beaten by the Magic in a 115-114 road defeat last night. Klay Thompson was questionable for the game but played and led the way with 24 points off the bench. PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg each scored 18 points, while Khris Middleton chipped in with 19 points and seven assists.

As a team, the Mavericks shot 45 percent from the field and 14 of 33 from the 3-point line as they poured in 33 points in the first quarter to take the narrow lead into halftime and they looked to be in great shape when they took a four-point lead with just 37.3 seconds left in the game, before the Magic scored the final five points to snatch the game away in the final seconds.

Boston Celtics Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics have been on a tear, as they’ve won 12 of their last 15 games overall but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after having their three-game win streak halted by the Hornets in a 118-89 blowout defeat on Wednesday. Derrick White led the team in scoring with 29 points on nine of 17 shooting, and Jaylen Brown added 20 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists but no other player finished in double figures in scoring.

As a team, the Celtics shot 38 percent from the field and 10 of 36 from the 3-point line as they failed to match the intensity of the Hornets from the start and got outscored by 64-43 in the first half, which just left them too much ground to make up in the second half. Payton Pritchard had a night to forget as he finished scoreless on zero of six shooting in 24 minutes off the bench. 

Why the Boston Celtics will win

• The Celtics have won each of their last 14 home games against Western Conference opponents after losing as favorites.
• The Mavericks have lost each of their last 11 games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Celtics have covered the spread in each of their last six night games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• The Mavericks have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine road games when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Why the Dallas Mavericks will win

• The Mavericks have won three of their last four games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Mavericks have covered the spread in each of their last four games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Celtics have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four home games against Western Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Eight of the Celtics’ last nine night games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of the Mavericks’ last five games as underdogs has gone UNDER the total points line.

Boston Celtics Player Facts

• Neemias Queta ranks 1st in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FG% (64.3%) this season.
• Jaylen Brown ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for points per game (28.9) this season.

Dallas Mavericks Player Facts

• P.J. Washington ranks 8th in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for blocks per game (1.2) this season.
• Naji Marshall ranks 6th amongst qualified forwards for FG% (52.5%) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Celtics rank 1st in the league for turnovers per game this season (12.2).
• The Celtics rank 30th in the league for free throw attempts per game this season (18.2).
• The Mavericks rank 30th for second-chance points per game (11.1) this season.
• The Mavericks rank 2nd in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (34.1%).

Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics Prediction

The Mavericks are still missing Brandon Williams, Marvin Bagley III, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II, while the Celtics have ruled out Jayson Tatum once again. The Mavericks are one of the coldest teams in the league right now, but they were more than competitive in last night’s narrow loss to the Magic despite Flagg playing on a minutes restriction.

In contrast, the Celtics were on fire before they got humbled by the Hornets in their last outing, but they’ve been rock-solid all season so they will surely bounce back here. I would be more interested in the Mavericks if Flagg was fully healthy, but the Mavericks are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so I will stick with the Celtics to get the massive win and cover at home.

Peter Tran's Pick: Boston -15.5