NBA Finals best bets: Celtics vs. Mavericks Game 4 Picks for Fri. 6/14

Celtics vs. Mavericks

Friday, June 14, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Jayson Tatum over 6.5 1Q Points (DraftKings)

By Joe Dellera

Given the 3-0 Finals lead, we should expect Porzingis to be at a minimum extremely limited but more likely out for Game 4, the game with the shortest rest of the Finals. When Porzingis missed time so far during this postseason, one of the biggest changes was that Tatum saw a swing in his first quarter minutes and was generally playing the entire first quarter as opposed to eight or nine minutes.

These extra minutes resulted in him scoring at a higher clip and he exceeded his 6.5 first quarter line in nine of 11 games without Porzingis this postseason. In those games he has averaged 9.5 points. Tatum shook off some rust last game when he dropped 13 first courter points on 4/7 shooting with three free throws. He had more opportunity to start the game with Porzingis’ set plays being taken out of the game plan.

Additionally, all of the comments have been proper regarding Finals MVP, but Tatum is a competitor and besides the aforementioned stats, I can see him taking matters into his own hands and making one more push with a high scoring game.

I like Tatum to start strong here.

Pick: Jayson Tatum over 6.5 1Q Points

Celtics vs. Mavericks

Friday, June 14, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Jayson Tatum over 6.5 1Q Points (DraftKings)

By Joe Dellera

Given the 3-0 Finals lead, we should expect Porzingis to be at a minimum extremely limited but more likely out for Game 4, the game with the shortest rest of the Finals. When Porzingis missed time so far during this postseason, one of the biggest changes was that Tatum saw a swing in his first quarter minutes and was generally playing the entire first quarter as opposed to eight or nine minutes.

These extra minutes resulted in him scoring at a higher clip and he exceeded his 6.5 first quarter line in nine of 11 games without Porzingis this postseason. In those games he has averaged 9.5 points. Tatum shook off some rust last game when he dropped 13 first courter points on 4/7 shooting with three free throws. He had more opportunity to start the game with Porzingis’ set plays being taken out of the game plan.

Additionally, all of the comments have been proper regarding Finals MVP, but Tatum is a competitor and besides the aforementioned stats, I can see him taking matters into his own hands and making one more push with a high scoring game.

I like Tatum to start strong here.

Pick: Jayson Tatum over 6.5 1Q Points

Celtics vs. Mavericks

Luka Doncic over 8.5 1Q Points (DraftKings)

By Joe Dellera

Run it back.

Luka Doncic should continue to find success in the 1Q to start these games.

This postseason, Luka has been tremendous to start games after a loss. In the six prior games following a loss, Luka is averaging 12.8 1Q points and has exceeded this mark in 5/7 with the misses both at 8 and he has scored 13 in both Games 2 and 3.

Luka indicated today in an interview with Malika Andrews that he will once again receive that pain killing shot before Game 4. That shot should be most potent to start this game and Luka will feel a bit of relief to start the game.

The start of the game is when he is most fresh and it’s another reason to back him.

Considering Luka faded to end the game and got a bit of extra rest in the 4Q due to fouling out, I expect him to be motivated to avoid the sweep tonight.

I’m backing Luka Doncic to once again start off hot.

Pick: Luka Doncic over 8.5 1Q Points