The Boston Celtics jumped out to a 17-point first quarter lead and never looked back in their Game 1 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. For Game 2 the Celtics are 6.5-point favorites with the total at 214.5 points in tonight's contest.
Read below for my two NBA player props for Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 2 on Sunday, June 9 — featuring prop bets for Jaylen Brown and Dereck Lively.
NBA Finals Player Props: Mavericks vs Celtics Game 2 (Sunday, June 9)
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Jaylen Brown Under 3.5 Assists (-122)
Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 2 | 8 p.m. ET, ABC
The best line according to our NBA Player Prop tool is Jaylen Brown to record less than 3.5 assists. He only recorded two assists in the Celtics Game 1 convincing 107-89 victory. Passing the ball has not been on the mind for Brown during this playoff run. His assists per game has dropped from 3.6 during the regular season to 2.6 in the playoffs.
Instead of passing, Brown has been an elite defender and scoring, which led to his Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. During the postseason, Brown is averaging 24.8 points per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. He has shot less than 50% in only three of the Celtics' 15 playoff games. Brown leads the Celtics with 12.6 drives per game, which proves his aggressiveness trying to score the ball. He has a one track mind offensively and that is to fill it up.
In Game 1, Brown had 22 points while shooting 7-for-12 from the field and attempting 11 free throws. He added three steals and three blocks making life difficult for the elite Mavericks' guards. Expect a similar offensive game plan for the Celtics and Brown. Which is plenty of field goal attempts, with not a lot of passing when given the opportunity.
Our model has Brown projected for only 2.3 assists tonight, which is well below his 3.5 prop line. Brown has failed to capture four or more assists in four consecutive playoff games and in 16 of his last 18 games. This line is simply too high for a player who is not looking to dish the rock at any point when driving the ball. Getting this prop at -122 at DraftKings is an incredible value. Lock in Brown to capture under 3.5 assists for tonight's Game 2.
Pick: Jaylen Brown Under 3.5 Assists (-122 | DraftKings)
Dereck Lively Over 6.5 Points (-108)
Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 2 | 8 p.m. ET, ABC
Mavericks' rookie Dereck Lively has been incredible during this postseason run. However, Game 1 was difficult for Lively playing only 15 minutes due to foul trouble and had one field goal attempt. He made it to extend his streak to 22-straight made field goals. However, scoring two points and shooting 0-for-2 from the free throw line is not ideal.
The Celtics did rank ninth in least amount of points scored in the paint this season, but it does not take much for Lively to reach seven points. He is averaging 8.2 points per game during the playoffs while shooting 67.1% from the field. Many of Lively's scoring is from alley-oops from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Having two of the best passers in the league on his team has catapulted his career. Lively will continue to get plenty more offensive opportunities.
Our prop model has Lively projected for 8.9 points, which is over two points than his prop line. He has captured at least seven points in seven of his last nine games and in 12 of his 17 playoff games (70.6%). The Celtics with Kristaps Porzingis back in the mix are an elite defensive team, but Lively is the safety blanket for both Doncic and Irving.
This is another prop that looks much more inviting at DraftKings with near even-money odds. Given his potentially to score double-digit points, I would recommend taking a peak at his alternate scoring lines.
Lively is +245 to score 10+ points and +475 to score 12+ points. If Lively is hitting his free throws, he should easily get close to the double-digit mark. Lock in Lively to score seven or more points and dabble on a couple of his alternative lines.
Pick: Dereck Lively Over 6.5 Points (-108 | DraftKings)
