🏀Basketball Celtics vs Mavericks Prediction

[James]

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics travel to Big D to take on Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in a battle of two powerhouses from the Eastern and Western conferences.
On this Thursday Night showdown, we get two of the midseason MVP frontrunners going head-to-head in what should be a back and forth affair full of lots of drama.
Keep reading for my analysis, a game prediction, and a MUST BET player prop!

Averaging almost a triple-double since Christmas, Dončić has truly put the Mavericks on his back and is carrying them right now scoring, rebounding and facilitating.

Not only is he averaging 43.4 PPG since Christmas, he is averaging 35 PPG on the season, shooting 50.7% from the floor.

The Mavericks currently sit 4th in the West, are 8-2 in their last 10 games and have won 7 straight.

And most of that success is because of the outstanding play of Dončić.

He will be on full display tonight against the best in the East and another MVP candidate in Jayson Tatum.

---

Best in the East?​

The Celtics currently sit atop the East but their hot start has faded, especially recently.

The Celtics are 5-5 in their last 10, and have lost 2 straight, one of which being to the Thunder without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Celtics need to get right and start playing more fundamentally sound basketball, especially on the defensive end.

They have allowed 123 and 150 points in their past 2 games and will need to tighten it up tonight against Luka and the 3 point shooters for the Mavs.

On the offensive end, the game will most certainly run through Superstar Jayson Tatum.

Tatum is averaging 30 PPG and is shooting 50% from the floor as well and has 30+ in 2 of the last 3 matchups against the Mavericks.

This will be a Luka vs Tatum night I have no doubt and whichever guy has more opportunities to shine will most likely come out on top.

​