NBA Basketball: Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Odds and Betting Preview

DALLAS, TX: The Boston Celtics will look to turn their uninspired form around on Monday night as they travel to the home of the NBA Champions, the Dallas Mavericks. The bookmakers have the Mavericks as six-point favourites for the game, with the best money line odds on the hosts -259 (bet $259 to win $100 profit) with Sportingbet. The visitors can be backed at odds of +300 (bet $100 to win $300 profit) with Bet 365 and Betfred

Dallas's last game saw them go down 104-97 in New York, snapping a season-best winning streak of six, despite the efforts of Dirk Nowitzski, who had his highest scoring game of the season with 34 points. They will be confident of bouncing back quickly, though, against a Celtics team going through a real rough patch. Boston have lost five of their last six games, including their last three, and have not fared well recently against Dallas, who have beaten them three times in a row going into Monday's game. Their job will be made no easier by the absences of both Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass.

Those who think the Celtics are no six-point underdogs should take note of the fact that they have not been too kind to their backers this season, going 13-17 against the spread while going 15-15 on the court. Dallas's record against the spread has been impressive, however, and the Mavericks have gone 19-13, falling just short of their on-court showing of 20-12. What's more, Dallas can boast a longer-term record against the spot of 38-17-2 in their last 57 NBA games.

The Over/Under total for the game is set at 178.5 points, with odds of -110 available with Coral and Bet 365, and both teams this season have leaned towards the Under. Boston have gone 11-16-3, while Dallas's record stands at 13-19, although Boston have gone 9-4-2 in their last fifteen games as the underdog.

Both teams were considered contenders for the NBA Championship at the beginning of the season, but it is now undoubedly the Mavericks who have the stronger claim. They can be backed at odds of 20/1 with Ladbrokes to retain their title, while Boston are now available at odds of 50/1 with both Ladbrokes and Boylesports. The Miami Heat are clear favourites to finally capitalise on their glittering array of stars, priced at just 17/10 with Paddy Power.

Monday's game tips off at 8.00pm Eastern time (01.00 GMT) and will be live on ESPN.

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