Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics tips off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Keep reading for the NBA first basket props I like for Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 5.
Doncic First Mavs FG (+240 BetMGM) & First Basket Exact Other (+1200 FD)
Luka Doncic has taken Dallas’ first shot in 8-of-21 games this postseason, or 38% of the time. Through four games against Boston, he leads all players in field goal attempts and points during the first quarter.
45% of his first-quarter attempts have been classified as “other," which means any 2-point shot that’s not a layup or dunk.
Boston excelled at taking away the corners and lobs in the first three contests before falling asleep at the wheel last game. I expect the Celtics to come out strong defensively, reinvigorate their off-ball defense and dare Dallas’ stars to win the game against switch-heavy, single coverage.
Doncic is successfully finding cracks and worming his way into the paint and mid-range too, and that fadeaway jumper has been great for him.
I like the superstar guard to open Dallas’ first possession with a 2-point jumper here.
I would play his first Mavericks field goal at one unit and down to +200 odds.
As for the first basket exact other, I endorse 0.5 units down to +900 odds.
Irving First Mavs FG Exact 2-Point (+400 DK)
Only Doncic possesses more first-quarter field goal attempts and points in this series than Kyrie Irving, so the Mavericks have essentially been a two-man show to open games.
Since I expect Boston to take away Dallas’ play-finishers, it'll also allow single coverage opportunities for Irving. He’s one of the premier isolation scorers in the NBA, so that defensive strategy bodes well for him.
Irving has only taken the Mavericks’ first attempt in 3-of-21 games this postseason (14.2%). However, he's 1-for-4 against Boston and cashed Dallas’ first field goal twice.
I'm playing the exact 2-point method because 80% of his first-quarter attempts have been via a 2-point shot. Therefore, it’s worth risking that he scores from 3-point territory in order to boost the odds from +280 (his first Mavericks field goal line) to +400 odds.
I advise playing this at 0.5 units and down to +370 odds. Any lower and it’s worth transitioning to his first Mavericks field goal line.
