The Mavericks hope to be unwelcoming hosts on Friday as the Celtics pay a visit to American Airlines Center in NBA betting action.

(Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). The Mavericks currently sports a record of 32-36, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 40-28 ATS. The Celtics are 36-31 and 32-32-3 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Mavericks post a 39-27-2 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Celtics have gone 33-33-1 against the number.



View Boston vs Dallas Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Celtics were listed as 4-point underdogs at many online sportsbooks (including Sportsbook), with the total listed at 199 earlier in the day (check Sportsbook for updates during the day).

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Mavericks at No. 17 and the Celtics at No. 15 heading into this contest. Handicapping models run by the computers at Odds Shark project a 99-98 result in favor of the Celtics.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Dallas's No. 7-ranked offense, averaging 101.5 PPG, against a Celtics defense that ranks No. 7 at 95.6 PPG. The Mavericks field goal percentage has averaged 46% so far, less than the Celtics shooters have achieved on the year, 46.1% per game.

Defensively, the Celtics feature the league's No. 11-rated defense on the road, giving up 98.3 points per game. Dallas, meanwhile, comes in at No. 7 in the league in scoring at home.

In their last action, Boston was an 87-86 loser on the road against the Hornets. They failed to cover the 4.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (173) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Paul Pierce scored 28 points for Boston on Wednesday, but the Hornets managed an 87-86 victory over the Celtics at New Orleans Arena.

In their last action, Dallas was a 113-96 loser at home against the Nets. They failed to cover the 3.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (209) was profitable news for OVER bettors. Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points in a failed effort to lead the Mavericks to victory (they lost 113-96 to Brooklyn at American Airlines Center on Wednesday).


Boston Celtics Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Memphis are 7-3
After playing New Orleans are 8-2
After a loss are 5-5

Dallas Mavericks Trends:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Utah are 5-5
After playing Brooklyn are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3

A few Celtics at Mavericks trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games when playing Dallas
Boston is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
Dallas is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 8 games when playing Boston


Next up:
Boston at Memphis, Saturday, March 23
Dallas home to Utah, Sunday, March 24